A patient with an alcohol addiction says, "My drinking is all my wife's fault.She makes me so crazy I just have to have a drink." What does this exemplify?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This statement exemplifies projection, where the patient is attributing their own feelings, impulses, or thoughts onto another person—in this case, blaming their wife for their own drinking behavior. Projection is a defense mechanism where individuals defend themselves against their own unconscious impulses or qualities by denying their existence in themselves and attributing them to others.

A Patient with an Alcohol Addiction Says, "My Drinking Is