A client who is being treated for chronic kidney disease complains to the health-care provider that he does not like the food available to him while hospitalized. The health-care provider insists that the client strictly adhere to the diet plan. What action can be expected is the client uses the defense mechanism of displacement?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Displacement is a defense mechanism in which an individual redirects negative emotions from one target to a less threatening or more neutral target. In this scenario, the client may feel frustrated and angry about the perceived lack of food options, but instead of expressing that to the health-care provider (the original target), he redirects that anger onto the nurse (the less threatening target), resulting in snapping and criticizing the nursing care provided.

A Client Who Is Being Treated for Chronic Kidney Disease