When Carol was 8 years old, her mother died. As an adult,Carol has no memories of attending her mother's funeral.Which ego defense mechanism in Freud's theory would best account for the fact that Carol has no memories of this upsetting event?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Repression is the ego defense mechanism in which the mind pushes disturbing memories or thoughts into the unconscious in order to avoid conscious awareness of them. Carol's lack of memory regarding her mother's funeral suggests that her mind may have repressed this upsetting event as a way of protecting her from the pain and trauma associated with it.

When Carol Was 8 Years Old, Her Mother Died