What psychological defense mechanism involves refusing to deal with unacceptable feelings or thoughts?

The psychological defense mechanism that involves refusing to deal with unacceptable feelings or thoughts is denial. Denial occurs when an individual consciously or unconsciously rejects or dismisses the reality of a situation. This can manifest in various ways, such as minimizing the significance of a problem or claiming that something distressing is not happening.

In contrast, suppression refers to the conscious decision to not think about or focus on distressing thoughts or feelings. While suppression involves a level of awareness and intentionality, denial operates at a deeper psychological level, where the individual might not even recognize the feelings or thoughts being rejected.

Regression is a different defense mechanism that involves reverting to behaviors characteristic of an earlier developmental stage in response to stress. Avoidance is the act of staying away from things that evoke anxiety, which can be related but is not specifically about refusing to acknowledge feelings or thoughts.

Thus, denial effectively captures the essence of refusing to confront or accept uncomfortable or distressing emotional realities, distinguishing it from other defense mechanisms.