Question 1

Which of the following is an unconscious process in which people see their own faults in other people, thus, protecting themselves against the anxiety they would feel if they discerned these faults in themselves?

Accepted Answer

Projection is a defense mechanism in which people project their own unwanted or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors onto others, thus avoiding confronting these aspects within themselves. By doing so, they can protect their own self-image and avoid the anxiety they would feel if they had to acknowledge these traits in themselves.

Question 2

Acting out an opposite behavior to block threatening impulses or feelings is the basic idea behind which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Acting out an opposite behavior to block threatening impulses or feelings is the basic idea behind the defense mechanism of reaction formation.

Question 3

Unconsciously preventing anxiety-producing experiences from reaching conscious awareness is called

Accepted Answer

Repression involves unconsciously preventing anxiety-producing experiences from reaching conscious awareness.

Question 4

Sid quit smoking over 20 years ago.Whenever he sees a young person light up a cigarette, he lectures them angrily about the dangers of smoking.When asked why he does this, he responds that if he did not get angry with them, he might ask them for a cigarette.Sid is doing the exact opposite behavior of how he really feels, which is characteristic of the defense mechanism of

Accepted Answer

The scenario given describes the defense mechanism of reaction formation, where a person behaves in a way that is the opposite of how they really feel. Sid quitting smoking but aggressively lecturing others who smoke is an example of reaction formation as he is displaying an exaggerated behavior in the opposite direction of his true feelings.

Question 5

Often when a newborn baby is brought home from the hospital, the preschool sibling will begin to exhibit behaviors, such as sucking his or her thumb or wetting the bed.These reactions illustrate which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

This reaction is indicative of regression, which is a defense mechanism in which an individual reverts to immature behaviors that were effective in the past for coping with stress or anxiety. In this case, the preschool sibling is exhibiting behaviors associated with earlier stages of development, as a way to cope with the stress and anxiety caused by the arrival of the new baby.

Question 6

Any return to earlier, less demanding situations or habits is the defense mechanism known as

Accepted Answer

Regression is the defense mechanism in which an individual reverts back to an earlier, less demanding situation or habit in order to cope with stress or anxiety. Denial involves denying the existence of a problem or situation, repression involves pushing threatening thoughts or memories into the unconscious, and reaction formation involves expressing an opposite emotion of what one feels.

Question 7

Regarding repression, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Repression involves unconsciously pushing unpleasant thoughts or memories out of awareness, rather than consciously refusing to perceive them.

Question 8

Selma has no memory of being sexually abused as a child.Which defense mechanism is most likely at work in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Repression is a defense mechanism where one unconsciously pushes out or "forgets" distressing memories or thoughts from their conscious mind. In this situation, Selma has no memory of being sexually abused as a child, which suggests that she may have repressed those memories as a defense mechanism.

Question 9

Whenever sixteen-year-old Anna gets angry or upset, she tends to pout and cry.Anna is exhibiting which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Pouting and crying in response to anger or upset is a form of regressing to a childlike behavior to cope with the situation.

Question 10

Jill insists over and over that she loves her mother.However, her mother is a long-time hypochondriac who fakes illness after illness.Currently, her mother's alleged ill health has required Jill to give up an independent social life.Jill might be suspected of displaying the defense mechanism of

Accepted Answer

Jill is exhibiting the defense mechanism of reaction formation. This defense mechanism is when a person expresses the opposite of their true feelings towards something. In this case, Jill expresses love towards her mother despite her mother's behavior causing her to give up her social life.

Question 11

You go to the on-line grade book to check out your grade on the last test.The grade is a 60.You tell yourself this has to be a mistake.The teacher must have recorded someone else's grade or graded your test with the wrong answer key.Which defense mechanism are you using?

Accepted Answer

Denial is the defense mechanism in which an individual refuses to accept the reality of a situation, even when presented with evidence to the contrary. In this scenario, the individual is denying the fact that they received a grade of 60 and is instead attributing it to a mistake made by the teacher.

Question 12

Elizabeth has a crush on Jason.When her friends tell her that they know she likes Jason, Elizabeth goes overboard telling her friends why she would never like Jason.Which defense mechanism explains Elizabeth's behavior?

Accepted Answer

Elizabeth is exhibiting reaction formation by expressing the opposite of her true feelings towards Jason in order to cope with her unconscious attraction to him.

Question 13

Penny's college roommate borrows clothes without asking, rarely contributes to the snacks in the fridge, and teases Penny constantly in front of others in the dorm.Although deep down Penny has come to really dislike her roommate, on the surface she acts as if they are best friends.It is likely that Penny is using the defense mechanism known as

Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where a person expresses exaggerated positive attitudes and behaviors towards a person or something that they actually dislike. In this scenario, Penny dislikes her roommate's behavior, but on the surface, she acts as if they are best friends. This is an example of reaction formation, as Penny is expressing positive attitudes towards her roommate despite her actual feelings. The other defense mechanisms, such as sublimation, projection, and displacement, do not fit the scenario as well as reaction formation.

Question 14

Deidre refused to believe that she has a drinking problem even though she has had two DUIs.Deidre is using which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Denial is a defense mechanism where an individual refuses to acknowledge or accept a fact or reality that is too uncomfortable or threatening to face. In this case, Deidre is refusing to believe that she has a drinking problem despite evidence to the contrary (her two DUIs), which suggests she is using the defense mechanism of denial.

Question 15

Susan, who is in college, is under a lot of stress.She cries and has a major temper tantrum when her roommate tries to help her.She decides to go home to her parents for comfort.This behavior is an example of

Accepted Answer

Susan's behavior of crying and having a temper tantrum when her roommate tries to help her is regressing to a childlike state where she seeks comfort from her parents.

Question 16

"I don't believe it" is to denial as an adult saying, "I'm going home to mother!" is to

Accepted Answer

This statement could be seen as an example of regression, a defense mechanism where an individual reverts to a previous stage of development in response to stress or anxiety. In this case, the adult is expressing the desire to return to the safety and security of their childhood home and mother, which could be seen as a regression to a time when they felt more protected and nurtured.

Question 17

Ronjela witnessed a horrific murder but cannot seem to remember any of it no matter how hard she tries.Ronjela's inability to recall the event is most likely due to

Accepted Answer

Ronjela's inability to recall the event is most likely due to repression, which is a defense mechanism that unconsciously pushes traumatic or unacceptable memories out of awareness to reduce anxiety or psychological discomfort. This is different from denial, which involves a conscious choice to reject or ignore a painful reality. Projection and sublimation are also defense mechanisms, but they involve redirecting unacceptable impulses onto others or transforming them into socially acceptable behaviors, respectively, and do not directly apply to Ronjela's situation.

Question 18

Freud noticed that his patients had tremendous difficulty recalling shocking or traumatic events from childhood.It seemed that powerful forces were holding these painful memories from awareness.Freud referred to this process as

Accepted Answer

The concept described in the question is repression, which is a defense mechanism whereby the unconscious mind prevents painful or disturbing thoughts, memories, or feelings from entering conscious awareness.

Question 19

A defense mechanism in which impulses are not only repressed but are also held in check through the exaggeration of opposite behavior is known as

Accepted Answer

The description given fits the defense mechanism of reaction formation. This involves expressing and exaggerating attitudes and beliefs that are opposite to one's true impulses or desires. For example, someone who has strong feelings of anger towards a person may display excessive kindness and friendliness towards them as a way of keeping their hostile feelings in check.

Question 20

In reaction formation, individuals

Accepted Answer

In reaction formation, individuals engage in exaggerated behaviors that are the opposite of their true feelings. This is a defense mechanism where a person expresses feelings, thoughts, or behaviors that are the opposite of their unconscious desires, in order to deal with the anxiety that arises from those desires.

Quiz 13: Health, Stress, and Coping.