Chapter 3: Theories Flashcards
compensation
Overachievement in one area to offset real or perceived deficiencies in another area
• Napoleon complex: diminutive man becoming emperor.
• Nurse with low self-esteem working double shifts so her supervisor will like her
conversion
Expression of an emotional conflict through the development of a physical symptom, usually sensorimotor in nature
• Teenager forbidden to see X-rated movies is tempted to do so by friends and develops blindness, and the teenager is unconcerned about the loss of sight.
denial
Failure to acknowledge an unbearable condition; failure to admit the reality of a situation or how one enables the problem to continue
• Diabetic person eating chocolate candy • Spending money freely when broke
• Waiting 3 days to seek help for severe abdominal pain
displacement
Ventilation of intense feelings toward persons less threatening than the one who aroused those feelings
• Person who is mad at the boss yells at his or her spouse.
• Child who is harassed by a bully at school mistreats a younger sibling.
dissociation
Dealing with emotional conflict by a temporary alteration in consciousness or identity
• Amnesia that prevents recall of yesterday’s auto accident
• Adult remembers nothing of childhood sexual abuse.
fixation
Immobilization of a portion of the personality resulting from unsuccessful completion of tasks in a developmental stage
• Never learning to delay gratification
• Lack of a clear sense of identity as an adult
identification
Modeling actions and opinions of influential others while searching for identity, or aspiring to reach a personal, social, or occupational goal
• Nursing student becoming a critical care nurse because this is the specialty of an
instructor she admires
intellectualization
Separation of the emotions of a painful event or situation from the facts involved; acknowledging the facts but not the emotions
• Person shows no emotional expression when discussing serious car accident.
introjection
Accepting another person’s attitudes, beliefs, and values as one’s own
• Person who dislikes guns becomes an avid hunter, just like a best friend.
projection
Unconscious blaming of unacceptable inclinations or thoughts on an external object
• Man who has thought about same-gender sexual relationship, but never had one, beats a man who is gay.
• Person with many prejudices loudly identifies others as bigots.
rationalization
Excusing own behavior to avoid guilt, responsibility, conflict, anxiety, or loss of self-respect • Student blames failure on teacher being mean.
• Man says he beats his wife because she doesn’t listen to him.
reaction formation
Acting the opposite of what one thinks or feels
• Woman who never wanted to have children becomes a supermom.
• Person who despises the boss tells everyone what a great boss she is.
regression
Moving back to a previous developmental stage to feel safe or have needs met
• Five-year-old asks for a bottle when new baby brother is being fed.
• Man pouts like a 4-year-old if he is not the center of his girlfriend’s attention.
repression
Excluding emotionally painful or anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings from conscious awareness
• Woman has no memory of the mugging she suffered yesterday.
• Woman has no memory before age 7, when she was removed from abusive parents.
resistance
Overt or covert antagonism toward remembering or processing anxiety-producing information • Nurse is too busy with tasks to spend time talking to a dying patient.
• Person attends court-ordered treatment for alcoholism but refuses to participate.
