Psychology: Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

Even a top baseball player will sometimes strikeout an easy pitch. When this happens, his next action maybe to throw his bat or kick the water cooler with all his might

Answer 1

Displacement

Question 2

Soldiers exposed to traumatic experiences in concentration camps during wartime sometimes had amnesia and were unable to recall any part of their ordeal.

Answer 2

Repression

Question 3

The mother of an unwanted child may feel guilty about not welcoming her child. As a result, she may try to prove her love by becoming overindulgent and overprotective of the child.

Answer 3

Reaction Formation

Question 4

Mrs. Brown often accuses other women of talking too much and spreading rumours. It is rather obvious to those who know her that she is revealing her own inclinations in that area.

Answer 4

Projection

Question 5

Paul, an aggressive child, had problems in elementary school, as he would frequently fight with other children. Paul found when he entered high school that he could channel this hostility into sports such as football and soccer.

Answer 5

Sublimation

Question 6

The habitual drinker may insist that he really doesn’t care much for the taste of the alcohol but feels that he is obligated to drink with friends “just to be sociable”.

Answer 6

Rationalization

Question 7

Mrs. Jane can’t understand why her husband has been grumpy and irritable for the past week. It certainly isn’t her fault that he didn’t receive the anticipated promotion at the factory.

Answer 7

Projection

Question 8

Parents might be reassured to know that children who pull wings of flies and jab puns in the dog may eventually find their niche in the areas of dentistry or surgery.

Answer 8

Sublimation

Question 9

Mike is always trying to impress his pals with how strong and independent he has become. However, when Mike has social or emotional problems, he still want his dad to figure out the solution.

Answer 9

Regression

Question 10

A student forgot that his dreaded final exam in geometry was scheduled for Friday. This seemed unusual as the date of the exam had been marked on his calendar for several weeks.

Answer 10

Repression

Question 11

A boy will sometimes react against the strong sexual attraction that he feels toward girls by becoming a confirmed “woman hater”.

Answer 11

Reaction Formation

Question 12

The majority group of a culture may blame all the various ills of society on a small minority group. This is a process termed “scapegoating” and is a factor in racial and religious prejudice.

Answer 12

Displacement

Question 13

The individual who actually likes to have others do things for him may be quick to criticise other people for being dependent and lazy.

Answer 13

Projection

Question 14

Janes Riley has suffered heavy financial losses recently while playing the stock market. Upon trading his big luxury car foe an old small car, James informed his associates that he bought he cheaper car to do his part in the battle against air pollution.

Answer 14

Rationalization

Question 15

David Walters recently lost his executive position in a large corporation. Rather than seek a new job, David finds comfort and escape in drinking, as alcohol helps him forget the details of being fired.

Answer 15

Regression

Question 16

Tory is apt to become annoyed when he recalls his earlier conviction as a Peeping Tom. Tory has left his sordid past behind and now is a busy photographer for Playboy magazine.

Answer 16

Sublimation

Question 17

Joan has discovered an amazing coincidence in relation to her attendance at school. Every time a test in Spanish is scheduled, she oversleeps and arrives at school too late for this class.

Answer 17

Rationalization

Question 18

Reformers may conduct campaign against pornographic literature in order to fight their own erotic interest in such material. They campaign to convince others of their purity and goodness.

Answer 18

Reaction Formation

Question 19

Margaret is convinced that she received a ”C” in her chemistry class instead of an “A” because of widespread cheating by her fellow students. She is sure that she must be as capable in chemistry course as in her other subjects.

Answer 19

Rationalization

Question 20

The young wife, after a bitter conflict with her husband, gives up her marriage as a failure and returns to the home of her parents. She again takes the role of an dependent child who expect la unlimited love and indulgence.

Answer 20

Regression

Question 21

The high school teacher was criticized by the principal for having a disruptive class. When the teacher got home that night, he argued with his wife and kicked the dog.

Answer 21

Displacement

Question 22

Adults who are sexually molested during childhood often report that all the details of the painful episode have been forgotten.

Answer 22

Repression

Question 23

It is possible that smokers graduated from earlier stages of thumb-sucking and pencil chewing, neither of which would be acceptable behaviour in adult society. Smoking is a socially acceptable outlet for the oral need.

Answer 23

Sublimation

Question 24

The woman with strong sexual drive may feel that most other women exhibit flirtatious behaviour or wear revealing clothes.

Answer 24

Projection

Question 25

After John was rejected by the admission office at Yale, he claimed the he wouldn’t enjoy attending such a large school anyway. Besides, he might receive higher grades at a smaller local college.

Answer 25

Rationalization

Question 26

Mary has secretly disliked her mother since she was a young child. As these feeling arouse anxiety, Mary usually tells friends that she loves her mother very much.

Answer 26

Reaction Formation

Question 27

Roger is a heavy drinker but managed to keep this behaviour from his friends. He is sure that most people actually drinks as much as he does.

Answer 27

Rationalization

Question 28

One psychological theory holds that the desire for sexual gratification, if frustrated or blocked, may eventually find expression in painting or the writing of poetry.

Answer 28

Sublimation

Question 29

A number of psychologists believe that social crusaders who advocate various forms of social control may in reality be struggling with their own unconscious desires.

Answer 29

Reaction Formation

Question 30

A 6-year-old child. Who gave up bed wetting at age 3, moves with his parents to a new neighbourhood. During the stressful period of adjusting to his new home, he again wets the bed for several nights.

Answer 30

Regression

Question 31

The girl that wasn’t invited to the school dance told her friends that she would have not attended if asked. She said that her teachers had assigned more homework than usual and that she simply too busy for any unimportant social functions.

Answer 31

Rationalization

Question 32

It is typical to a person who is most difficult to convince in an argument to say that everyone else is stubborn.

Answer 32

Projection

Question 33

When a new baby arrives in a family, the older child will sometimes cry more than usual and be more insistent about receiving caresses from the parents.

Answer 33

Regression

Question 34

Billy always teases and annoys his younger brother after he himself is disciplined by his parents.

Answer 34

Displacement

Question 35

Mr. Martin carried around letters in his coat pocket for weeks. The note, which he some how neglected, mailing, was an invitation to his mother-in-law to visit the family for several months

Answer 35

Repression