Mahmoud was just told that his father has cancer. Mahmoud's first response is that there must be a mistake and he demands that the doctor repeat his tests. Which defense mechanism is at work here?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mahmoud's response of believing there must be a mistake and demanding the doctor repeat the tests is indicative of denial, which is a defense mechanism where someone refuses to accept or acknowledge something that causes distress or anxiety. In this case, the distressing news of his father's cancer is being denied or avoided by Mahmoud's insistence that there must be an error in the diagnosis.

Mahmoud Was Just Told That His Father Has Cancer