---
title: "Ego-Defensive Function of Attitude: UPSC GS4"
description: "The ego-defensive function of attitude helps protect self-esteem by projecting anxieties onto others, relevant for psychology and UPSC GS4 candidates."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/ego-defensive-function-of-attitude"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The ego-defensive function of attitude is the psychological process by which a person holds attitudes that protect their self-esteem from internal anxieties and external threats.
- How does the ego-defensive function differ from the value-expressive function of attitude?
- Why are ego-defensive attitudes so resistant to change?
- Which defence mechanisms underlie the ego-defensive function?
- How is this concept relevant to UPSC GS Paper IV ethics?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The ego-defensive function of attitude is the psychological process by which a person holds attitudes that protect their self-esteem from internal anxieties and external threats.

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In 2020, public-health officials in several countries found that vaccine-hesitant individuals strengthened their opposition when shown corrective data, an instance of the ego-defensive function shielding self-esteem against perceived threat.

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