A teen boy is nervous about asking a teen girl for a dance. On their lunch, the boy starts talking about the mating rituals of tribes in Africa. The boy is exhibiting which type of defense mechanism?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The boy is using intellectualization by discussing an abstract topic unrelated to his immediate emotional concern (asking the girl for a dance) to avoid dealing with his anxiety directly. This defense mechanism involves focusing on intellectual aspects to distance oneself from the emotional stress.

A Teen Boy Is Nervous About Asking a Teen Girl