Personality Disorders and Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

Refusal to accept reality or fact.

Mature or Immature?

Answer 1

Denial (Immature)

Question 2

A return to an earlier period of development

Answer 2

Regression

Question 3

Expressing an unconscious wish through an action to avoid becoming consciously aware of it. (e.g. punching wall)

Answer 3

Acting out

Question 4

Temporary but drastic modification of a person’s character or sense of identity to avoid distress (ex. amnesia with trauma)

Answer 4

Dissociation

Question 5

Lesser form of dissociation when parts of oneself are separated from awareness of other parts and behaving as if one had separate sets of values

Answer 5

Compartmentalization

Question 6

Attributing your thoughts or feelings to someone else.

Answer 6

Projection

Question 7

Converting unwanted or dangerous thoughts, feelings, or impulses into their opposites

Answer 7

Reaction formation

Question 8

Division or polarization into only good or only bad. What PD is it associated with?

Answer 8

Splitting, Borderline personality disorder

Question 9

Idealized aspects of the self are preserved, limitations denied

Answer 9

Narcissism

Question 10

Internalizing qualities of another person

Answer 10

Introjection

Question 11

Excessive daydreaming as a substitute for human relationships or more effective action

Answer 11

Schizoid fantasy

Question 12

Experience and express psychological distress in the form of physical symptoms

Answer 12

Somatization/hypochondriasis

Question 13

Unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts, feelings and impulses

Answer 13

Repression

Question 14

Redirecting thoughts and feelings directed at one person or object, but taken out on another person or object

Answer 14

Displacement

Question 15

Overemphasis on thinking when confronted with an unacceptable impulse, situation or behavior without employing any emotions. What personality trait?

Answer 15

Intellectualization, obsessive compulsive

Question 16

Offer justification to explain thoughts, ideas or feelings that may otherwise be unacceptable

Answer 16

Rationalization

Question 17

Conscious postponing attention to a conscious impulse or conflict

Answer 17

Suppression

Question 18

Altering a socially objectionable aim or object to a socially acceptable one but achieving impulse gratification (Dexter)

Answer 18

Sublimation

Question 19

Using constructive and instinctually gratifying service to others to undergo a vicarious experience

Answer 19

Altruism

Question 20

Using comedy to deal with/ express feelings to avoid discomfort

Answer 20

Humor

Question 21

Psychologically counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other areas

Answer 21

Compensation

Question 22

Egosyntonic definition

Answer 22

Acceptable to the person

Question 23

Distrust and suspiciousness are central. What cluster?

Answer 23

Paranoid PD, Cluster A

Question 24

Detachment from social relationships, restricted emotional expressions in interpersonal settings (does not desire relationships) Indifferent to praise or criticism

Answer 24

Schizoid PD, Cluster A

Question 25

Very odd, social deficits, reduced capacity for close relationships

Answer 25

Schizotypal, Cluster A

Question 26

Disregard for violations of others rights. Deceitful, manipulative, breaks law

Answer 26

Antisocial, Cluster B

Question 27

Frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, recurrent suicidal behavior

Answer 27

Borderline PD, Cluster B

Question 28

Wants to be center of attention, inappropriate seductive and provocative behavior

Answer 28

Histrionic, Cluster B

Question 29

Grandiose sense of self-importance

Answer 29

Narcissistic, Cluster B

Question 30

Fears criticism, disapproval, and rejection. Avoids relationships and activities for this reason.

Answer 30

Avoidant, Cluster C

Question 31

Need to be taken care of. What goes with it?

Answer 31

Dependent, Cluster C, shared psychotic disorder/folie a deux

Question 32

Obsessed with orderliness to the point of losing goal of activity

Answer 32

Obsessive-Compulsive PD, Cluster C