A seventy-four-year-old man has severe gangrene of the right foot and right lower leg. His physician recommends above-the-knee amputation to prevent further problems. The patient refuses to consider this recommendation and states that he will stop smoking to control the condition, so that amputation will not be necessary. Which of the following defense mechanisms is this patient demonstrating?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Denial is a defense mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality or facts, ignoring the existence of a painful or threatening situation. In this case, the patient is denying the severity of his condition and the necessity for amputation, believing that stopping smoking will be sufficient to control the condition.

A Seventy-Four-Year-Old Man Has Severe Gangrene of the Right Foot