Defense Mechanisms

Question 1

Sublimation

Answer 1

Rechanneling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive

Question 2

Denial

Answer 2

Refusing to acknowledge the existence of a real situation or the feelings associated with it

Question 3

Regression

Answer 3

Retreating in response to stress to an earlier level of development and comfort associated with that level of functioning

Question 4

Repression

Answer 4

Involuntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness

Question 5

Suppression

Answer 5

Voluntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness

Question 6

Undoing

Answer 6

Symbolically negating or canceling out an experience that one finds intolerable

Question 7

Compensation

Answer 7

Covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a trait one considers more desireable

Question 8

Displacement

Answer 8

The transfer of feelings from one target to another that is considered less threatening or that is neutral

Question 9

Introjection

Answer 9

Integrating the beliefs and values of another individual into one’s own mannerisms or actions

Question 10

Projection

Answer 10

Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to oneself to another person

Question 11

Identification

Answer 11

An attempt to increase self-worth by acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of an individual one admires

Question 12

Rationalization

Answer 12

Attempting to make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors

Question 13

Isolation

Answer 13

Separating a thought or memory from the feeling, tone, or emotion associated with it

Question 14

Reaction Formation

Answer 14

Preventing unacceptable or undesirable thoughts or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviors

Question 15

Intellectualization

Answer 15

An attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions associated with a stressful situation by using the intellectual processes of logic, reasoning, and analysis

Question 16

The nurse is interviewing a client with a history of excessive drinking and multiple arrests for impaired driving. The client states, “I work hard to provide for my family. I don’t see why I can’t drink to relax.”

Answer 16

Rationalization