When Maria was born,her 5-year old sister became intensely jealous of all of the attention that was directed to the baby.She tried to be a good big sister,but as each day went on she became more and more resentful of the new sister.Maria,who had long-since been toilet trained,suddenly began wetting her bed again.A psychodynamic theorist would explain this as an example of the defense mechanism called __________.

Question

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Psychodynamic theorists propose that regression is a defense mechanism that allows an individual to revert to an earlier stage of development, such as bedwetting, in the face of stress or anxiety. In this scenario, it is likely that Maria's sister's jealousy and resentment towards Maria may have resulted in Maria feeling anxious or stressed, leading to the regression of her previous toilet-training skill.

When Maria Was Born,her 5-Year Old Sister Became Intensely Jealous