Question 1

Coping with anxiety by retreating to behavior patterns characteristic of an earlier, more infantile stage of development is called

Accepted Answer

The coping mechanism described in the question is regression, which involves reverting back to behaviors and thought patterns that are characteristic of an earlier, less mature stage of development. Projection involves attributing one's own undesirable feelings or characteristics onto others, reaction formation involves expressing the opposite of one's true feelings, and displacement involves redirecting one's emotions onto a substitute target.

Question 2

Unconsciously motivated by miserliness, Mr. Rioja refused his son's request for money to buy the books he needs for school. In defending his actions, Mr. Rioja explained that "parental financial aid prevents teenagers from developing into mature, independent adults." Mr. Rioja's explanation is an example of

Accepted Answer

Mr. Rioja is rationalizing his refusal to give his son money by justifying it with a belief that it will help his son become more independent.

Question 3

Projection refers to the process by which people

Accepted Answer

Projection is when someone unconsciously attributes their own unacceptable thoughts or impulses to another person or object. It is a defense mechanism that allows the individual to avoid confronting their own negative feelings or traits. Choice A describes the defense mechanism of reaction formation, choice C describes regression, and choice D describes rationalization.

Question 4

Psychoanalytic theory suggests that the ego disguises threatening impulses and reduces anxiety by means of

Accepted Answer

According to psychoanalytic theory, defense mechanisms are strategies used by the ego to cope with anxiety caused by threatening impulses from the id (unconscious). These defense mechanisms help to keep the unconscious impulses hidden from conscious awareness, thereby reducing anxiety. Examples of defense mechanisms include repression, denial, projection, and displacement.

Question 5

A religious leader who attempts to overcome his hidden doubts with intense expressions of spiritual certainty illustrates most clearly the defense mechanism of

Accepted Answer

Reaction formation involves exaggerating one's beliefs or feelings in order to counteract unconscious doubts or anxieties. In this scenario, the religious leader is trying to overcome their hidden doubts by expressing intense spiritual certainty, which is an example of reaction formation. Projection involves attributing one's own unwanted feelings or traits onto others, regression involves reverting to childish behaviors under stress, and displacement involves redirecting one's impulses onto a less threatening target. None of these defense mechanisms are demonstrated in the scenario given.

Question 6

According to Freud, the defense mechanism that underlies all others is

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, repression is the most fundamental and basic defense mechanism that underlies all other defense mechanisms. Repression involves pushing unwanted or threatening thoughts, feelings, or memories out of conscious awareness and into the unconscious mind. This creates a sense of relief, but can also cause problems if the repressed material resurfaces in problematic ways.

Question 7

Which defense mechanism involves expressing feelings that are the exact opposite of their anxiety-arousing unconscious feelings?

Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which a person expresses feelings, thoughts, and behaviors opposite to their unconscious feelings. For example, someone who fears and dislikes their boss may express profuse admiration and give them lavish compliments. The person is trying to cover up their true feelings by expressing the exact opposite.

Question 8

As her parents became increasingly more abusive toward her, Amity began, with apparent sincerity, to emphatically express her great admiration for her parents. Amity's behavior illustrates most clearly the defense mechanism of

Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual expresses the opposite of how they truly feel in order to cope with uncomfortable or unacceptable emotions. In the case of Amity, her expressions of admiration for her abusive parents can be seen as a reaction formation, where she is expressing the opposite of her negative feelings towards them in order to cope with the abuse.

Question 9

Neo-Freudians placed greater emphasis than did Freud on the role of ________ in personality development.

Accepted Answer

Neo-Freudians such as Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Karen Horney broke away from Sigmund Freud's emphasis on the unconscious and instead placed greater emphasis on the role of the conscious mind and social interactions in personality development.

Question 10

Displacement refers to the process by which people

Accepted Answer

Displacement is a defense mechanism where individuals redirect their aggressive or sexual impulses toward less threatening targets.

Question 11

Both Karen Horney and Alfred Adler placed greater emphasis than did Freud on the role of ________ in personality development.

Accepted Answer

Both Karen Horney and Alfred Adler emphasized the social interactions and cultural factors in personality development, rather than solely relying on unconscious motives or biology. Horney believed that cultural and social pressures were important factors in creating personality, while Adler developed the concept of "individual psychology" which emphasized the importance of social interest and the individual's strive for success and belonging in society.

Question 12

Denial is a defense mechanism that involves

Accepted Answer

Denial is a defense mechanism that involves refusing to believe or even perceive painful realities. This can include denying the existence of a problem or refusing to acknowledge a truth that is too difficult to accept.

Question 13

Using the defense mechanism of projection, a person experiences an internal

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using the defense mechanism of projection, a...

Question 14

Freud indicated that defense mechanisms

Accepted Answer

The answer of Freud indicated that defense mechanisms
...

Question 15

For several months after he lost the job he had held for nearly 20 years, Mr. Ullomi frequently lost his temper and suffered periodic crying spells. His behavior is most clearly an example of

Accepted Answer

Mr. Ullomi's behavior of losing his temper and having crying spells after losing his job is an example of regression. This is because he is exhibiting behavior that is characteristic of an earlier developmental stage, in this case, a less mature stage where he had less control over his emotions.

Question 16

Although Camile has detailed memories of her early school years, she remembers very little about the boyfriend who abruptly broke off their marriage engagement. According to psychoanalytic theory, it appears that Camile is using the defense mechanism of

Accepted Answer

According to psychoanalytic theory, repression is the defense mechanism that allows us to push distressing memories and thoughts into the unconscious mind, where they are prevented from entering conscious awareness. Camile's lack of memory about her failed engagement suggests that she may be using repression to keep these painful memories from surfacing in her conscious mind.

Question 17

A habitual drinker who says she drinks with her friends "just to be sociable" best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Rationalization is a defense mechanism in which a person offers a self-justifying explanation in place of the real, threatening reason for their behavior. In this case, the habitual drinker is rationalizing her drinking behavior by saying she does it to be sociable with her friends.

Question 18

Frank refuses to believe that he is addicted to drugs despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. He is most clearly demonstrating the defense mechanism of

Accepted Answer

Frank's refusal to believe he is addicted to drugs despite overwhelming evidence is an example of denial, which is a defense mechanism people use to reduce anxiety by rejecting or denying the reality of a situation.

Question 19

Although Eduardo has repressed his own homosexual desires, he is distressed by a false suspicion that many men frequently stare lustfully at his body. According to psychoanalytic theory, Eduardo's thinking best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Projection is the defense mechanism by which individuals attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives onto someone else. Eduardo is projecting his own homosexual desires onto other men by falsely believing that they stare lustfully at his body.

Question 20

Shortly after receiving a traffic ticket for speeding, Fred made numerous hostile comments to his wife about the incompetence of women drivers. Fred's comments illustrate most clearly the defense mechanism of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Shortly after receiving a traffic ticket for...

Quiz 40: A: Psychodynamic Theories