a second feature of the use of defense mechanisms identified by fouls concerns the way they generate or cause a person’s behavior without that person being aware of its origins. in other words the use of a defence mechanism involves a motive that is located outside conscious awareness. again using the example of displacement, the aggressive workman is not aware of the real motive for verbally abusing his wife: that is he does not know that he is abusing her because his boss made him feel aggressive. he is unable to detect or explain his true motives because his use of displacement is unconscious and automatic.