Question 1

A corporate executive who feels guilty about the way she ascended to power accuses her colleagues of ruthless ambition. Her behavior typifies ________.

Accepted Answer

The behavior of accusing colleagues of ruthless ambition despite the executive's own guilt is an example of projection, the defense mechanism in which one attributes their own unwanted thoughts or impulses onto someone else.

Question 2

In World War II, many prisoners in concentration camps came to imitate the behaviors and mannerisms of the brutal guards who were their captors. The behavior of these prisoners is probably due to ________.

Accepted Answer

The behavior of the prisoners imitating the guards is likely due to identification, which is a defense mechanism where an individual unconsciously takes on the characteristics of another person or group. In this case, the prisoners may have identified with the guards as a way to cope with their situation and potentially gain some level of power or control. Sublimation involves channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors, projection involves attributing one's own thoughts or emotions to others, and reaction formation involves expressing the opposite of one's true feelings or impulses.

Question 3

Soldiers who break down in the battlefield often cope with their situation by blocking out all memories of their behavior and their situation. This is a type of ________.

Accepted Answer

Repression is a defense mechanism in which an individual pushes away or blocks out memories, thoughts, or feelings that are too difficult or painful to confront. Soldiers who break down in the battlefield and cope by blocking out memories are using repression as a defense mechanism. Withdrawal, aggression, and intellectualization are other defense mechanisms that individuals may use in different situations, but they do not apply specifically to this example.

Question 4

Perhaps the greatest danger of withdrawal as a way of coping is that it will ________.

Accepted Answer

Withdrawal as a way of coping can lead to avoidance of similar future situations, which can limit personal growth and opportunities for resolution.

Question 5

When we attribute feelings we do not want to have to someone else, we may be ________.

Accepted Answer

When we attribute feelings we do not want to have to someone else, we are projecting. Sublimating refers to channeling negative emotions into productive or socially acceptable behaviors, displacing refers to redirecting emotions from the original target to a substitute target, and identifying refers to empathizing with another person's feelings.

Question 6

When individuals realize their adversary is more powerful than they are, a positive and realistic adjustment is ________.

Accepted Answer

When individuals realize their adversary is more powerful than they are, a positive and realistic adjustment is withdrawal. This allows them to reassess the situation and come up with a different plan or approach. Aggression, regression, and denial are not positive or realistic adjustments in this case.

Question 7

The most basic defense mechanisms are ________.

Accepted Answer

Denial and repression are considered the most basic defense mechanisms. Denial involves refusing to accept or acknowledge a particular reality, while repression involves pushing unwanted thoughts or memories into the unconscious mind. Both denial and repression serve to protect the individual from unpleasant or threatening information, but they can also lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms in the long term.

Question 8

A supposedly mature adult reverting to childlike behavior is typical of ________.

Accepted Answer

Regression involves reverting to an earlier stage of development in response to stress or anxiety. In this case, the supposed mature adult is reverting to childlike behavior, which can be seen as a regression to an earlier stage of development.

Question 9

The self-deceptive elements of defensive coping led Freud to believe that these elements were ________.

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that the self-deceptive elements of defensive coping were unconscious, meaning that individuals were not aware they were engaging in these behaviors as a way to protect themselves from anxiety or other uncomfortable emotions.

Question 10

The most common mechanism for blocking painful feelings and memories is ________.

Accepted Answer

Repression is the most common mechanism for blocking painful feelings and memories, as it involves pushing them into the unconscious mind to avoid experiencing the associated discomfort or pain. Displacement involves redirecting emotions towards a substitute target, projection involves attributing one's own undesirable emotions to others, and denial involves refusing to acknowledge the existence of an issue or feeling.

Question 11

In situations where people are under stress but there is little or nothing they can do to cope directly with the stress, they are likely to turn to ________.

Accepted Answer

When people are under stress but unable to cope directly, they are likely to use defense mechanisms as a way to cope. Defense mechanisms are automatic psychological strategies that the mind uses to protect itself from overwhelming thoughts and feelings. Examples of defense mechanisms include denial, repression, projection, and rationalization. These mechanisms allow individuals to avoid confronting the stressful situation directly and can provide temporary relief from the stress.

Question 12

Lilly has been told by her doctor that she is suffering from a terminal illness. Instead of making preparations for her demise, she acts as if nothing is wrong and tells her friends that her doctor is a "quack" who misdiagnosed her illness. She believes that she will recover despite her doctor's warning. Her behavior is typical of someone using ________.

Accepted Answer

Lilly is exhibiting denial, where she refuses to acknowledge or accept the reality of her terminal illness.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true of defense mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms are self-deceptive techniques that individuals use unconsciously to protect themselves from anxiety, unacceptable thoughts, or feelings. They are not necessarily indications of future psychosis or the presence of severe neuroses. Well-adjusted people also use defense mechanisms to cope with difficult situations or emotions.

Question 14

Refusing to acknowledge a painful or threatening reality is ________.

Accepted Answer

Denial is the defense mechanism used to deny or refuse to acknowledge a painful or threatening reality. Projection involves attributing one's own feelings or impulses onto someone else. Repression involves unconsciously pushing unwanted thoughts or memories out of consciousness. Rationalization involves justifying one's actions or feelings with a socially acceptable explanation.

Question 15

Defensive coping is a form of ________.

Accepted Answer

Defensive coping involves denying or distorting reality as a way to protect oneself from anxiety or stress. This can involve self-deception or avoidance of confronting the issue directly. It is not a form of aggression or compromise, and while confrontation can sometimes be a part of defensive coping, it is not the defining characteristic.

Question 16

The reverse of projection is ________.

Accepted Answer

The reverse of projection is identification, where an individual takes on the characteristics of someone else or group in order to feel a sense of belonging or importance. Intellectualization, sublimation, and reaction formation are all defense mechanisms that operate differently than projection.

Question 17

In a hostage situation, to survive, victims sometimes seek to please their captors, and may identify with them as a way of coping with unbearable and unstoppable stress. This phenomenon is known as the ________.

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the statement is known as the Stockholm syndrome. It refers to the psychological response of hostages who feel an emotional bond or alliance with their captors, often resulting in feelings of empathy and sympathy towards them, despite the fact that the captors are threatening their lives. The Stockholm syndrome is named after the 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, where hostages developed a strong emotional attachment to their captors during a six-day ordeal.

Question 18

A parent with unfulfilled ambitions shares emotionally in her child's success. When the child is promoted, the parent feels as if she, herself, has triumphed. Her behavior exemplifies the defense mechanism of ________.

Accepted Answer

The parent's behavior of emotionally identifying with her child's success and feeling as if she herself has triumphed exemplifies the defense mechanism of identification.

Question 19

In a contract negotiation, union leaders initially demand a $2 per hour raise. Management does not want to give workers a raise at all. Eventually, both sides agree to a $1 per hour raise. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The fact that both sides agreed to a $1 per hour raise after initial demands for $2 per hour (from the union) and no raise (from management) indicates that both sides made concessions and met somewhere in the middle. This is known as a compromise.

Question 20

After weeks of being taunted by her so-called "friends" at school, Alyssa begins actively avoiding them whenever possible. Her coping style is best described as ________.

Accepted Answer

Alyssa's coping style involves avoiding her friends, which is a form of withdrawal.

Quiz 11: Stress and Health Psychology