Defenses

Question 1

Dissociation

Answer 1

This doesn’t seem real, I’m watching this from outside myself

Question 2

Isolation of Affect

Answer 2

I don’t feel anything, I feel numb

Question 3

Intellectualization

Answer 3

I’m talking really fast and jumping from topic to topic to avoid my feelings

Question 4

Denial

Answer 4

She broke up with me cause she’s jealous

Question 5

Projection

Answer 5

I’m not angry at him, he’s angry at me

Question 6

Projective Identification

Answer 6

I’m angry at you so I’m going to make you angry at me

Question 7

Repression

Answer 7

I can’t remember this painful memory. Now I don’t have to feel the feelings

Question 8

Suppression

Answer 8

I know what’s making me angry, I’m just not going to deal with it rn

Question 9

Rationalization

Answer 9

I can’t be angry at him because he’s my therapist and he’s just trying to help

Question 10

Regression

Answer 10

I’ll behave like a child and then others will take care of me

Question 11

Reaction Formation

Answer 11

It’s wrong to feel angry so I’ll nurture the person that I’m angry towards

Question 12

Displacement

Answer 12

I’m frightened to be angry at my boss, so I’ll be angry at my husband instead

Question 13

Turning Against the Self

Answer 13

I’m afraid to express anger towards others so I’ll just blame it on myself so I can be ashamed instead

Question 14

Passive Aggression

Answer 14

Being openly angry is uncomfortable so I’ll give them the silent treatment instead

Question 15

Help-Seeking, Help-Rejecting

Answer 15

I’m angry so I’ll ask for help and make my caregiver feel useless

Question 16

Acting Out

Answer 16

I’m angry so I punched a wall

Question 17

Passivity

Answer 17

I’m not angry that I never get my way, I’m just super chill

Question 18

Distraction

Answer 18

I’ll do anything but sit still and feel my feelings (clean, gamble, work)

Question 19

Anxiety

Answer 19

I don’t want to feel feelings, so I’ll just have a vague sense that something isn’t right

Question 20

Depression

Answer 20

I don’t want to feel angry so I’ll just wash it away with an ocean of sadness and shame

Question 21

Black-White Thinking

Answer 21

I missed my first day of class so I’ll just quit

Question 22

Minimization

Answer 22

I’m not angry, he didn’t even hit me that hard

Question 23

Counter-dependence

Answer 23

I take care of others to deny my own needs and vulnerabilities

Question 24

Omnipotent Control

Answer 24

I will bully and dominate others to reassure myself that I am strong and invulnerable

Question 25

Helplessness

Answer 25

I will act like I don’t know what to do so others take care of me

Question 26

Conversion

Answer 26

I’m not angry but my left arm doesn’t work anymore

Question 27

Devaluation

Answer 27

I don’t want to feel shame so I’ll pretend my therapist is a moron so I can dismiss their feedback

Question 28

Withdrawal

Answer 28

Other people generate too many unpleasant feelings, so I just avoid them

Question 29

Borderline PD

Answer 29

Splitting
Projection, Projective Identification
Acting Out
Dissociation
Idealization/Devaluation

Question 30

Antisocial PD

Answer 30

Acting Out
Dissociation
Projection, Projective Identification
Denial
Omnipotent Control

Question 31

Narcissistic PD

Answer 31

Projection
Idealization/Devaluation