Psych- defense mechanisms

Question 1

emotional conflicts and stressors dealt with by performing helpful service to others that results in satisfaction and pleasure

Answer 1

altruism

Question 2

serving as a volunteer to a disaster area

Answer 2

altruism

Question 3

making up for a perceived or real inability by focusing on another area and becoming proficient (may be conscious or unconscious)

Answer 3

compensation

Question 4

a 16 year old boy is not good at sports. he strives to get the top grades in his class and become a member of his school’s honor society

Answer 4

compensation

Question 5

transfer of a mental conflict into a physical symptom

Answer 5

conversion

Question 6

a concert pianist develops paralysis of his right hand prior to his first concert

Answer 6

conversion

Question 7

avoiding, ignoring, or rejecting a real situation and the feelings associated with it

Answer 7

denial

Question 8

a man tells his wife that he wants a divorce. the wife responds by saying that all couples have difficulties and that she is sure he will feel differently tomorrow

Answer 8

denial

Question 9

transfer of emotions from one person or object onto another less threatening and more neutral person or object (sometimes called the “scape goat” defense mechanism

Answer 9

displacement

Question 10

the staff nurse is yelled at by the unit supervisor at work. when she gets home, the nurse yells at her 12 year old son for no apparent reason

Answer 10

displacement

Question 11

emphasizing ironic or amusing aspects of a conflict or stressor

Answer 11

humor

Question 12

a nurse with cold hands comments, “cold hands but a warm heart” before taking a patient’s pulse

Answer 12

humor

Question 13

process whereby an individual takes on thoughts, mannerisms, or tastes of another individual whom the individual admires

Answer 13

identification

Question 14

a college student decides to becomes a physical therapist after spending 3 months in physical therapy due to a knee injury

Answer 14

identification

Question 15

excessive reasoning or logic to transfer disturbing feelings into the intellectual sphere

Answer 15

intellectualization

Question 16

a student tells her parents that no one could hav don’t better than she did on the course exam, because the exam material was not covered well enough, and the course instructor is not a very good teacher

Answer 16

intellectualization

Question 17

attributing to oneself the qualities of another- intense identification in which the qualities are incorporated into the individual’s own ego structure

Answer 17

introjection

Question 18

a patient states he is “General Napoleon” and walks around the unit with his right hand over his heart

Answer 18

introjection

Question 19

separating ideas, thoughts, and actions from feelings associated with them

Answer 19

isolation

Question 20

a nurse stops on the highway to assist in an accident. the victim’s arm has been severed from the body. the nurse does not focus on the feelings about the situation but focuses on applying pressure to the wound site, calling for help, and comforting the victim

Answer 20

isolation

Question 21

unconsciously attributing one’s thoughts or impulses to another person

Answer 21

projection

Question 22

roommate A gets angry at roommate B for being angry and not listening, when it is actually roommate A who is angry and has not been listening

Answer 22

projection

Question 23

justifying illogical ideas, actions, or feelings by using acceptable explanations (most common defense mechanism- a form of self-deception)

Answer 23

rationalization

Question 24

the college student did not do well on her exam. she calls home and tells her parents that she did not get enough sleep the night before the exam

Answer 24

rationalization

Question 25

developing the opposite behavior or emotion to unacceptable feelings or behaviors

Answer 25

reaction formation

Question 26

a student does not like the teacher or the nurse being taught by the teacher. the student brings the teacher articles related to the nurse and comments how much he likes the teacher and her course

Answer 26

reaction formation

Question 27

the unconscious exclusion of unwanted experiences, ideas, emotions; repression is a first line of psychological defense against anxiety

Answer 27

repression

Question 28

a 7 year old girl displays signs of sexual abuse. although her family is suspicious of who might have abused her and when, the girl cannot recall anything about the most recent visit she had with the potential abuser

Answer 28

repression

Question 29

the unconscious substituting of acceptable behaviors for unacceptable behaviors

Answer 29

sublimation

Question 30

an 18 year old male who felt inadequate when compared to his brothers and was bullied in school joins the Marines

Answer 30

sublimation

Question 31

the conscious denial of a disturbing situation or feeling (think of the individual as consciously “sitting on” the feelings as compared to repression, in which the individual is not aware)

Answer 31

suppression

Question 32

one student asks another if he is worried about the exam in their class tomorrow. the student replies, “I’d rather not think about that right now”

Answer 32

suppression

Question 33

making up for an intolerable act or experience to lessen or alleviate feelings of guilt

Answer 33

undoing

Question 34

after being caught by his mother stealing money out her purse, the 10 year old boy washes his hands excessively

Answer 34

undoing