Four-year-old Brandon has watched his father as he has mowed the lawn. This year, Brandon has asked for a lawn mower of his own for his birthday. Freud would say that Brandon is beginning the process of _________ as a way of resolving his Oedipal conflict.

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According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, identification occurs when a child adopts the characteristics, beliefs, and behaviors of the same-sex parent in an attempt to resolve the Oedipal conflict. In this scenario, Brandon wants to emulate his father by having his own lawn mower and taking on a similar role in the household, which is a form of identification. Compensation involves overemphasizing one's strengths to make up for perceived weaknesses, sublimation involves channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors, and denial involves refusing to acknowledge reality.

Four-Year-Old Brandon Has Watched His Father as He Has Mowed