A six-year-old child who starts sucking his thumb when his new brother is born is exhibiting which type of defense mechanism?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The child is exhibiting regression, which is a defense mechanism where an individual reverts to an earlier stage of development or adopts more childish mannerisms, often in response to stress or anxiety. In this case, the stressor is the arrival of a new sibling, and the child responds by reverting to thumb-sucking, a behavior more common in younger children.

A Six-Year-Old Child Who Starts Sucking His Thumb When His