A woman is very upset with her mother, but her ego will not allow her to express her hostility openly. According to Freud, what might we expect this woman to do?
A) Explain to everyone how much she loves her mother.
B) Accidentally destroy one of her mother's favorite dishes.
C) Express her hostility toward her own children.
D) The woman might do any of these actions, as they involve different defense mechanisms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The woman might do any of these actions, as they involve different defense mechanisms. Freud proposed several defense mechanisms that the ego uses to cope with anxiety and uncomfortable emotions such as hostility. These defense mechanisms include repression, denial, displacement, sublimation, and projection. The woman's ego might use any of these defense mechanisms to deal with her hostility toward her mother, depending on the situation and the individual's personality.

A Woman Is Very Upset with Her Mother, but Her