Ch. 4: Stress and Defense Mechanisms Flashcards
What causes anxiety?
Stress
Why do individuals use defense mechanisms?
As a way to manage conflict in response to anxiety
Are defense mechanisms reversible?
Yes, can also be adaptive or maladaptive
T/F: it is important that the defense mechanism used is appropriate to the situation, and that an individual uses a variety of defense mechanisms, rather than having the same reaction to every situation.
True
What are defense mechanisms that are always healthy? What about the other defense mechanisms?
Altruism and sublimation; they may be healthy, but they can become maladaptive
What is altruism?
Dealing with anxiety by reaching out to others
EX: A nurse who lost a family member in a fire becomes a volunteer fire fighter
What is sublimation?
Dealing with unacceptable feelings or impulses by unconsciously substituting acceptable forms of expression
EX: A person who has feelings of anger and hostility toward his work supervisor sublimates those feelings by working out vigorously at the gym during his lunch
What is suppression?
Voluntarily denying unpleasant thoughts and feelings
EX: A person lost his job and says “next week I’ll worry about paying my bills. Not this week.”
What is repression?
Putting unacceptable ideas, thoughts, and emotions out of conscious awareness
EX: A person who has a fear of the dentist’s drill continually “forgets” his dental appointments
What is displacement?
Shifting feelings r/t an object, person, or situation to another less threatening object, person, or situation
EX: A person loses his job and is angry so destroys his childs favorite toys
What is reaction formation?
Overcompensating or demonstrating the OPPOSITE behavior of what is felt
EX: A person who dislikes her sister’s daughter offers to babysit so that her sister can go out of town
What is undoing?
Performing an act to MAKE UP for prior behavior
EX: An adolescent completes his chores without being prompted AFTER having an argument with his parents
What is rationalization?
Creating reasonable and acceptable explanations for unacceptable behavior
EX: A young adult explains he had to drive home from a party after drinking alcohol bc he had to feed his dog
What is dissociation?
Temporarily blocking memories and perceptions from consciousness
EX: An adolescent witnesses a shooting and is unable to recall any details of the event
What is splitting?
Demonstrating an inability to reconcile negative and positive attributes of self or others
EX: A client tells a nurse that she is the only one who cares about her, yet the following day, the same client refuses to talk to the nurse
What is projection?
Blaming others for unacceptable thoughts and feelings
EX: A young adult blames his substance abuse disorder on his parent’ refusal to buy him a new car
What is denial?
Pretending the trust is not reality to manage the anxiety of acknowledging what is real
EX: A parent who is informed that his son was killed in combat tells everyone he is coming home for the holidays
What is regression?
Demonstrating behavior from an earlier developmental level
*Often exhibited as childlike or immature behavior
EX: A school age child begins wetting the bed and sucking his thumb after learning that his parents are separating
What does normal anxiety motivate people to do?
Take action
EX: A nurse on a mental health floor hears a violent situation is occurring–the anxiety experienced by the nurse helps her to react quickly
What is acute (state) anxiety?
Level of anxiety precipitated by an imminent loss or change that threatens ones sense of security
EX: Sudden death of a loved one
What is chronic (trait) anxiety? When does this start? How does the adult experience this?
One that develops over time
Develops during childhood
Adult experiences anxiety and physical symptoms
