Question 1

Nurse Anne recognizes that John is always blaming others for his shortcomings. Finger pointing is usually related to the defense mechanism of:

Accepted Answer

Scapegoating involves blaming others for one's own problems or shortcomings, which aligns with John's behavior of finger pointing and not taking personal responsibility.

Question 2

Defense mechanisms are methods used for reducing anxiety. Defense mechanisms unconsciously assist a person in handling stressful events in an effective manner. People have a group of defense mechanisms learned from childhood. The following are defense mechanisms (select all that apply):

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms such as Compensation, Rationalization, Regression, and Denial are unconscious strategies that people use to reduce anxiety by distorting reality and they do not directly deal with the stressor. Depression, on the other hand, is considered a mental health disorder rather than a defense mechanism.

Question 3

Lila's three-year-old daughter is an only child who recently started day care. Lila toilet trained her daughter 6 months ago; however, her daughter has started wetting herself and crawling after 1 week in the day care. Her mother has become quite concerned. The school nurse explained to her that her daughter probably is experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Regression is a defense mechanism leading individuals to revert to earlier stages of development and behaviors under stress or when faced with new challenges, such as starting day care, which is likely the case with Lila's daughter.

Question 4

_________________ is the way a person adapts to a stressor psychologically, physically, and behaviorally.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _________________ is the way a person adapts...

Question 5

__________________is an unconscious "burying" or "forgetting" mechanism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________________is an unconscious "burying" or "forgetting" mechanism....

Question 6

Using a logical-sounding excuse is known as ___________________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using a logical-sounding excuse is known as...

Question 7

Your patient is sternly criticized by her doctor for not complying with the medication regimen. The patient walks out of the office and yells at the parking attendant. This may be an example of which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Displacement involves redirecting emotions or feelings from the original source to a safer or more convenient substitute target. In this scenario, the patient redirects her anger from the doctor, who criticized her, to the parking attendant, who is a safer target for her emotions.

Question 8

Marion, a 25-year-old patient who lives with her parents, explains to the nurse at the community clinic, "I really don't need to talk to anyone, even my parents." The patient expresses that she is too busy and does not have the time to sit and talk. The nurse recognizes that the patient is most likely using the defense mechanism known as:

Accepted Answer

Avoidance is a defense mechanism where an individual may steer clear of discussing or thinking about uncomfortable feelings or situations, as seen in Marion's behavior of not wanting to talk to anyone, including her parents, under the guise of being too busy.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes what defense mechanisms are?

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological strategies brought into play by various entities to cope with reality and to maintain self-image. They serve to reduce anxiety and psychological distress.

Question 10

A new patient with schizophrenia is admitted to the psychiatric unit. He is standing at the locked exit door and yelling, "Help me, I don't belong here." This behavior is most likely an example of what defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Denial is a defense mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality or facts, acting as if a painful event, thought, or feeling did not exist. In this scenario, the patient is likely using denial by refusing to accept his diagnosis or the need for treatment, hence insisting he doesn't belong in the psychiatric unit.

Question 11

Audrey, a mental health nurse, has noticed that every day before going to work, she starts off with headaches, loose stools, and episodes of feeling light-headed and other disorders. These symptoms may be an expression of emotional disturbances. Audrey is aware she could be experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Audrey's symptoms are indicative of conversion disorder, where emotional disturbances are converted into physical symptoms, such as headaches, loose stools, and feeling light-headed, without a medical cause.

Question 12

"I can quit smoking any time I want to." The person is in ___________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of "I can quit smoking any time I...

Question 13

Which of the following are defense mechanisms that people typically use in times of stress (select all that apply):

Accepted Answer

Denial, compensation, and rationalization are defense mechanisms people use to protect themselves from feelings of anxiety or guilt. Denial involves refusing to accept reality, compensation involves overachieving in one area to compensate for failures in another, and rationalization involves justifying one's behaviors or feelings with logical reasons, avoiding the true reasons.

Question 14

An overweight male college student is unable to participate in competitive sports. Although he can't be a sports hero, the student becomes the life of the party when socializing. This student also uses his student loan to purchase a new sports car. The student is displaying:

Accepted Answer

The student is displaying compensation, which is a defense mechanism where an individual overachieves in one area to compensate for failures in another. In this case, the student compensates for his inability to participate in competitive sports by excelling in social situations and purchasing a sports car to boost his self-esteem.

Question 15

Joy has just experienced her fifth spontaneous abortion. She is unable to understand why this is happening to her. Joy voices her anger toward her physician and the nurses by accusing them of incompetence. Assessing the situation, the nurse recognizes that the patient may be using the coping mechanism of:

Accepted Answer

Displacement is a defense mechanism where an individual redirects their emotions or reactions from the original source to another target. In this scenario, Joy is redirecting her anger and frustration from the situation of experiencing multiple spontaneous abortions, which she might feel powerless against, towards her healthcare providers, who are more accessible targets for her emotions. This is a classic example of displacement, where the emotional response is shifted from the actual source of distress to another, often less threatening, target.

Quiz 7: Coping and Defense Mechanisms