Often when a newborn baby is brought home from the hospital, the infant's preschool-age sibling will begin to exhibit behaviors, such as sucking his or her thumb or wetting the bed. These reactions illustrate which defense mechanism?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This behavior is an example of regression, where an individual reverts to earlier stages of development and exhibits behaviors that are more characteristic of those stages, often as a way to cope with stress or anxiety. In this case, the preschool-age sibling is likely experiencing stress or jealousy due to the attention the newborn is receiving and is regressing to behaviors typical of a younger child.

Often When a Newborn Baby Is Brought Home from the Hospital