ATI Ch 4, Stress and Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

What are the two defense mechanisms that are always healthy?

Answer 1

Altruism and sublimation

Altruism involves reaching out to others to deal with anxiety, while sublimation involves substituting unacceptable feelings with acceptable expressions.

Question 2

How can defense mechanisms become maladaptive?

Answer 2

If used inappropriately or repetitively

The frequency, intensity, and duration of use of defense mechanisms are key in determining their adaptability.

Question 3

What is the goal when a client is exhibiting defense mechanisms?

Answer 3

To maintain a therapeutic relationship based on trust

This relationship should focus on well-being with healthy boundaries and assist the client in developing healthy coping strategies.

Question 4

Define altruism in the context of defense mechanisms.

Answer 4

Dealing with anxiety by reaching out to others

An example of adaptive use is a nurse who lost a family member in a fire volunteering as a firefighter.

Question 5

What is an example of adaptive use of altruism?

Answer 5

A nurse who lost a family member in a fire is a volunteer firefighter

This demonstrates the healthy application of altruism.

Question 6

Define sublimation as a defense mechanism.

Answer 6

Dealing with unacceptable feelings by substituting acceptable forms of expression

An example is a person who feels anger toward their supervisor and works out vigorously instead.

Question 7

What is an example of adaptive use of sublimation?

Answer 7

A person works out vigorously at the gym during lunch to deal with feelings of anger toward their supervisor

This shows the positive expression of emotions through physical activity.

Question 8

Define suppression in the context of defense mechanisms.

Answer 8

Voluntarily denying unpleasant thoughts and feelings

An example is a student putting off thoughts about a fight to focus on a test.

Question 9

What is an example of adaptive use of suppression?

Answer 9

A student puts off thinking about a fight to focus on a test

This is a healthy way to manage stress and maintain focus.

Question 10

Define repression as a defense mechanism.

Answer 10

Unconsciously pushing unacceptable ideas, thoughts, and emotions out of awareness

An example is forgetting a childhood experience of being laughed at while giving a speech.

Question 11

What is an example of adaptive use of repression?

Answer 11

A person preparing to give a speech unconsciously forgets being laughed at as a child

This helps them perform without distraction from negative memories.

Question 12

Define regression in the context of defense mechanisms.

Answer 12

Sudden use of childlike or primitive behaviors that do not correlate with the person’s current developmental level

An example is a young child temporarily wetting the bed after a pet’s death.

Question 13

What is an example of adaptive use of regression?

Answer 13

A young child temporarily wets the bed when learning their pet died

This is a normal response to stress or loss in children.

Question 14

Define displacement as a defense mechanism.

Answer 14

Shifting feelings related to an object, person, or situation to another less threatening object, person, or situation

This often involves redirecting emotions to avoid confronting the original source.

Question 15

What is an example of adaptive use of displacement?

Answer 15

An adolescent angrily punches a punching bag after losing a game

This allows them to express their anger in a safe and constructive manner.

Question 16

What is an example of maladaptive use of displacement?

Answer 16

A person who is angry about losing their job destroys their child’s favorite toy

This demonstrates the harmful effects of misdirecting emotions.

Question 17

What is Reaction Formation?

Answer 17

Unacceptable feelings or behaviors are controlled or kept out of awareness by overcompensating or demonstrating the opposite behavior of what is felt.

Example: A person who is trying to quit smoking repeatedly talks to adolescents about the dangers of nicotine.

Question 18

Provide an example of adaptive use of Reaction Formation.

Answer 18

A person trying to quit smoking talks to adolescents about the dangers of nicotine.

This demonstrates a positive behavior change.

Question 19

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Reaction Formation.

Answer 19

A person who resents caring for an aging parent becomes overprotective and restricts their freedoms.

This shows a negative coping mechanism.

Question 20

What is Undoing in psychological terms?

Answer 20

Performing an act to make up for prior behavior, commonly seen in children.

Example: An adolescent completes their chores without being prompted after an argument with their parent.

Question 21

Provide an example of adaptive use of Undoing.

Answer 21

An adolescent completes their chores without being prompted after having an argument with their parent.

This reflects a constructive attempt to restore harmony.

Question 22

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Undoing.

Answer 22

An individual buys their significant other flowers and gifts after an incident of partner abuse.

This is an attempt to compensate for harmful behavior.

Question 23

What is Rationalization?

Answer 23

Creating reasonable and acceptable explanations for unacceptable behavior.

Example: A young adult explains they had to drive home from a party after drinking alcohol because they had to feed the dog.

Question 24

Provide an example of adaptive use of Rationalization.

Answer 24

An adolescent says, ‘They must already have a boyfriend’ when rejected by another adolescent.

This shows a way to cope with rejection.

Question 25

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Rationalization.

Answer 25

A young adult explains they had to drive home from a party after drinking alcohol because they had to feed the dog.

This is an excuse for dangerous behavior.

Question 26

What is Dissociation?

Answer 26

A disruption in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment that results in compartmentalization of uncomfortable aspects of oneself.

Example: A person forgets who they are following a sexual assault.

Question 27

Provide an example of adaptive use of Dissociation.

Answer 27

A parent blocks out the distracting noise of their children in order to focus while driving in traffic.

This shows a temporary coping mechanism.

Question 28

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Dissociation.

Answer 28

A person forgets who they are following a sexual assault.

This indicates a severe psychological response.

Question 29

What is Denial?

Answer 29

Pretending the truth is not reality to manage unpleasant, anxiety-causing thoughts or feelings.

Example: A person initially says, ‘No, that can’t be true’ when told they have cancer.

Question 30

Provide an example of adaptive use of Denial.

Answer 30

A person initially says, ‘No, that can’t be true’ when told they have cancer.

This can be a temporary coping mechanism.

Question 31

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Denial.

Answer 31

A parent who is informed that their child was killed in combat tells everyone one month later that the child is coming home for the holidays.

This reflects an inability to accept a tragic reality.

Question 32

What is Compensation?

Answer 32

Emphasizing strengths to make up for weaknesses.

Example: A person who is shy learns computer skills to avoid socialization.

Question 33

Provide an example of adaptive use of Compensation.

Answer 33

An individual who excels in academic competitions despite being involved in contact sports.

This demonstrates a positive balance of abilities.

Question 34

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Compensation.

Answer 34

A person who is shy learns computer skills to avoid socialization.

This can lead to further social withdrawal.

Question 35

What is Identification?

Answer 35

Conscious or unconscious assumption of the characteristics of another individual or group.

Example: A child who has a chronic illness pretends to be a nurse for their dolls.

Question 36

Provide an example of adaptive use of Identification.

Answer 36

A child who has a chronic illness pretends to be a nurse for their dolls.

This allows for imaginative play and coping.

Question 37

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Identification.

Answer 37

A child who observes their parent being abusive toward the other parent becomes a bully at school.

This reflects learned negative behaviors.

Question 38

What is Intellectualization?

Answer 38

Separation of emotions and logical facts when analyzing or coping with a situation or event.

Example: A person who learns they have a terminal illness focuses on creating a will instead of acknowledging their grief.

Question 39

Provide an example of adaptive use of Intellectualization.

Answer 39

A law enforcement officer blocks out the emotional aspect of a crime to objectively focus on the investigation.

This helps in maintaining professionalism in a difficult job.

Question 40

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Intellectualization.

Answer 40

A person who learns they have a terminal illness focuses on creating a will and financial matters rather than acknowledging their grief.

This can prevent necessary emotional processing.

Question 41

What is Conversion?

Answer 41

Responding to stress through the unconscious development of physical manifestations not caused by a physical illness.

Example: A person experiences deafness after their partner tells them that they want a divorce.

Question 42

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Conversion.

Answer 42

A person experiences deafness after their partner tells them that they want a divorce.

This indicates a severe psychological stress response.

Question 43

What is Splitting?

Answer 43

Demonstrating an inability to reconcile negative and positive attributes of self or others into a cohesive image.

Example: A client tells a nurse that the nurse is the only one who cares about them, yet the following day, the client refuses to talk to that nurse.

Question 44

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Splitting.

Answer 44

A client tells a nurse that the nurse is the only one who cares about them, yet the following day, the client refuses to talk to that nurse.

This reflects unstable interpersonal relationships.

Question 45

What is Projection?

Answer 45

Attributing one’s unacceptable thoughts and feelings onto another who does not have them.

Example: A married client who is attracted to another person accuses their partner of having an extramarital affair.

Question 46

Provide an example of maladaptive use of Projection.

Answer 46

A married client who is attracted to another person accuses their partner of having an extramarital affair.

This shows an inability to accept one’s own feelings.