A 45-year-old woman brings her stepson to the office for a well-child visit. She never wanted children due to her unhappy childhood and wishes her marriage did not include being a stepmother to her husband's 5-year-old son. In the waiting room, the woman seems excessively concerned when the boy accidentally trips and is clearly uninjured. During the visit, she tells the physician that she adores the child and describes her elaborate preparations for his birthday party. Which of the following defense mechanisms best explains this woman's behavior?

Question

A 45-year-old woman brings her stepson to the office for a well-child visit.  She never wanted children due to her unhappy childhood and wishes her marriage did not include being a stepmother to her husband's 5-year-old son.  In the waiting room, the woman seems excessively concerned when the boy accidentally trips and is clearly uninjured.  During the visit, she tells the physician that she adores the child and describes her elaborate preparations for his birthday party.  Which of the following defense mechanisms best explains this woman's behavior?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ec160b_3612_680a_9249_bf881b1d1d08_MD0001_00 Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which an individual transforms unacceptable feelings or impulses into their extreme opposites. This woman does not want to be a stepmother, and her resentment toward the child is masked with declarations of love. Her negative feelings toward the child are transformed into oversolicitous behavior in response to his tripping and excessive preparations for his birthday party. (Choice A) Displacement is the inappropriate transfer of feelings or impulses toward a less threatening object (eg, if this woman yelled at her dog instead of the child). (Choice B) Projection involves attributing unacceptable impulses or behavior to another person or situation (eg, if this woman accused her husband of disliking the child). (Choice C) In rationalization, an individual makes excuses for unacceptable feelings or behavior (eg, if this woman explained that she is much too old to be caring for a young child). (Choice E) Splitting is an immature defense mechanism in which an individual is unable to integrate mixed feelings (eg, if this woman alternately felt the boy was "all bad" and "all good"). It is commonly seen in borderline personality disorder. (Choice F) Suppression is the voluntary withholding of unpleasant thoughts or feelings from one's mind in order to cope with reality (eg, if this woman acknowledged her resentment toward the child but chose to put it aside for the sake of her marriage). Educational objective: Reaction formation is a defense mechanism that involves replacing unacceptable feelings and impulses with their extreme opposites. __________ References: Change in coping and defense mechanisms across adulthood: longitudinal findings in a European-American sample. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23834293)

A 45-Year-Old Woman Brings Her Stepson to the Office for a Well-Child