Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

compensation

Answer 1

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 that her supervisor will like her

Question 2

conversion

Answer 2

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

student nurse anxious about exam develops a HA

Question 3

denial

Answer 3

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

Question 4

displacement

Answer 4

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

Question 5

dissociation

Answer 5

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

Question 6

fixation

Answer 6

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

Question 7

identification

Answer 7

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

Question 8

intellecutalization

Answer 8

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

Question 9

introjection

Answer 9

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

Question 10

projection

Answer 10

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

Question 11

rationalization

Answer 11

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 does not listen to him

Question 12

reaction formation

Answer 12

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

Question 13

regression

Answer 13

Moving back to a previous developmental stage to feel safe or have needs met

A 5-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

Question 14

repression

Answer 14

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

Question 15

resistance

Answer 15

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

Question 16

sublimation

Answer 16

Substituting a socially acceptable activity for an impulse that is unacceptable

Person who has quit smoking sucks on hard candy when the urge to smoke arises
Person goes for a 15-minute walk when tempted to eat junk food

Question 17

substitution

Answer 17

Replacing the desired gratification with one that is more readily available

Woman who would like to have her own children opens a day care center

Question 18

suppression

Answer 18

Conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts and feelings from conscious awareness

Student decides not to think about a parent’s illness to study for a test
Woman tells a friend she cannot think about her son’s death right now

Question 19

undoing

Answer 19

Exhibiting acceptable behavior to make up for or negate unacceptable behavior

Person who cheats on a spouse brings the spouse a bouquet of roses
Man who is ruthless in business donates large amounts of money to charity