Ego Defenses (Examples) (First Aid)

Question 1

Adults finding comfort in their childhood blanket

Answer 1

Fixation

Question 2

Tantrums

Answer 2

Acting out

Question 3

“Not true!”

Answer 3

Denial

Question 4

Mother yells at her child because her husband yelled at her

Answer 4

Displacement

Question 5

Abused child becomes an abuser

Answer 5

Identification

Question 6

Describes murder in graphic detail with no emotional response

Answer 6

Isolation

Question 7

Can lead to multiple personalities

Answer 7

Dissociation

Question 8

Disgruntled employee routinely late for work

Answer 8

Passive aggression

Question 9

A patient with libidinous thoughts enters a monastery

Answer 9

Reaction formation

Question 10

Seen in children under stress such as illness, punishment, or birth of a new sibling (bedwetting)

Answer 10

Regression

Question 11

A patient says that all the nurses are cold and insensitive but that hte doctors are warm and friendly

Answer 11

Splitting

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Projection

Question 13

After getting fired, claiming the job was not important anyway

Answer 13

Rationalization

Question 14

20 year old doesn’t remember going to counseling during his parents divorce 10 years earlier

Answer 14

Repression

Question 15

Mafia boss makes large donation to charity

Answer 15

Altruism

Question 16

Nervous medical student jokes about the boards

Answer 16

Humor

Question 17

Teenager’s aggression toward his father is directed to perform well in sports

Answer 17

Sublimation

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Suppression