Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

Name the 13 most common immature defense mechanisms.

Answer 1

1. Acting out
2. Dissociation
3. Denial
4. Displacement
5. Fixation
6. Identification
7. Isolation of affect
8. Projection
9. Rationalization
10. Reaction Formation
11. Regression
12. Repression
13. Splitting

Question 2

Name the 4 mature defense mechanisms.

Answer 2

1. Altruism
2. Sublimation
3. Humor
4. Suppression

Question 3

Acting out

Answer 3

Expressing unacceptable feelings and thoughts through actions

Question 4

Tantrums

Answer 4

Acting out

Question 5

Dissociation

Answer 5

Temporary drastic change in personality to avoid emotional stress

Question 6

In its extreme, multiple personality disorder.

Answer 6

Dissociation

Question 7

Denial

Answer 7

Avoiding the awareness of some painful reality

Question 8

Common in newly diagnosed AIDS and cancer

Answer 8

Denial

Question 9

Displacement

Answer 9

Transferring avoided ideas and feelings to a neutral person or object

Question 10

Mother yelling at her child after her husband yelled at her

Answer 10

Displacement

Question 11

Fixation

Answer 11

Partially remaining at a more childish level of development

Question 12

Men fixating on a sports game

Answer 12

Fixation

Question 13

Identification

Answer 13

Modeling behavior after another person who is more powerful

Question 14

A child with their abuser

Answer 14

Identification

Question 15

Isolation of affect

Answer 15

Separating feelings from ideas and events

Question 16

Describing murder in graphic detail without emotional response

Answer 16

Isolation

Question 17

Projection

Answer 17

Attributing an unacceptable internal impulse to an external source

Question 18

A man who wants another woman thinks his wife is cheating on him

Answer 18

Projection

Question 19

Rationalization

Answer 19

Proclaiming logical reasons for actions actually performed for other reasons, usually to avoid self blame

Question 20

After getting fired, claiming that the job was not important anyways

Answer 20

Rationalization

Question 21

Reaction formation

Answer 21

Replacing a warded off idea or feeling by an unconscious emphasis on its opposite

Question 22

A patient with libidinous thoughts enters a monastery

Answer 22

Reaction formation

Question 23

Regression

Answer 23

Turning back to earlier modes of dealing with the world

Question 24

Bedwetting in a previously toilet trained child

Answer 24

Regression

Question 25

Repression

Answer 25

Involuntary witholding of an idea or feeling

Question 26

Not remembering a traumatic experience

Answer 26

Repression

Question 27

Splitting

Answer 27

Believing things are all bad or all good

Question 28

Patient that says nurses are cold and insensitive but doctors are warm and friendly

Answer 28

Splitting

Question 29

Altruisim

Answer 29

Alleviating guilty feelings by unsolicited generosity towards others

Question 30

Mafia boss makes large donation to a charity

Answer 30

Altruism

Question 31

Humor

Answer 31

Appreciating the amusing nature of an anxiety-provoking or adverse sityation

Question 32

Nervous medical student jokes about the boards

Answer 32

Humor

Question 33

Sublimation

Answer 33

Replacing an unacceptable wish with a course of action that is similar to the wish but does not conflict with ones value system

Question 34

Teens aggression towards his father is channeled into performing well in sports

Answer 34

Sublimation

Question 35

Suppression

Answer 35

Intentional withholding of an idea or feeling from conscious awareness

Question 36

Choosing not to worry about the big game until it is time to play

Answer 36

Suppression