Question 1

When Jimmy's parents bring home his newborn baby brother, Jimmy begins to suck his thumb and wet the bed.This reaction best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Regression is a defense mechanism in which an individual retreats to a behavior that they have outgrown or previously abandoned in response to stress or anxiety. In this case, Jimmy's reaction to the newborn baby can be seen as a manifestation of his stress or anxiety about the new addition to his family. His sucking his thumb and wetting the bed are behaviors typically associated with younger children, and his regression to these behaviors can be seen as an attempt to cope with his feelings of displacement and insecurity.

Question 2

Whenever six-year-old Aaron gets upset, he begins sucking his thumb.Aaron is using which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Regression is a defense mechanism in which an individual reverts to an earlier stage of development when faced with stressful situations. In this case, Aaron's thumb-sucking behavior is a regression to an earlier stage of development when he felt more secure and comforted.

Question 3

Jay's mother is always fussing at him about his messy room, his disorganized study habits, and his tendency to wait until the last minute to complete an assignment.Interestingly, when you observe Jay's mother, she also has these same shortcomings.By focusing on her son's bad habits, Jay's mother does not have to focus on her own bad habits.She is using the defense mechanism known as

Accepted Answer

Projection is a defense mechanism where an individual unconsciously denies their own negative traits and attributes them to someone else. In this case, Jay's mother is projecting her own messy room, disorganized study habits, and procrastination onto her son, which allows her to avoid facing her own flaws.

Question 4

Sam has a real clunker of a car that has stalled on him numerous times.He tells his friends that he is getting a brand new car, but then he checks out the prices and realizes that he cannot afford a new car.When his friends ask him when he is getting the new car, he responds that he does not know what he was thinking.He could never give up this car."It's a classic." Sam is using the defense mechanism known as

Accepted Answer

Sam is rationalizing his inability to afford a new car by convincing himself that he actually wants to keep his current car because it is a classic. This is a form of rationalization, which is a defense mechanism in which a person justifies or excuses their behavior or feelings in a way that makes them seem acceptable or normal.

Question 5

Justifying one's behavior by offering self-serving untruths that sound reasonable is a basic feature of

Accepted Answer

Rationalization involves offering self-serving untruths or justifications for one's behavior that may appear to be reasonable or logical, but are actually intended to justify or excuse actions that may be viewed as inappropriate or unacceptable. This defense mechanism allows individuals to maintain a positive self-image and avoid feelings of guilt or shame.

Question 6

A professional athlete who attributes his or her poor performance to family responsibilities rather than admit poor preparation is using

Accepted Answer

Rationalization is a defense mechanism in which an individual makes excuses or justifications for their behavior or actions to avoid admitting a mistake or taking responsibility for their shortcomings. In this case, the athlete is rationalizing their poor performance by blaming it on their family responsibilities rather than acknowledging that their lack of preparation may be the actual cause.

Question 7

_____ is an unconscious process that protects people from the anxiety they would feel if they were to discern their faults.Thus, persons exhibiting this defense mechanism tend to see their faults in others rather than in themselves.

Accepted Answer

Projection is a defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own unacceptable or unwanted thoughts, behaviors or emotions onto another, often to avoid anxiety or cognitive dissonance. It is a way of avoiding one's faults and shifting them onto someone else.

Question 8

Susan, who is in college, is under a lot of stress.She cries and has a major temper tantrum.She decides to go home to her parents for comfort.This behavior is an example of

Accepted Answer

Regression is a defense mechanism in which an individual reverts to an earlier stage of development in response to stress or anxiety. In this case, Susan goes back to seeking comfort from her parents, which she might have done when she was younger.

Question 9

If Mary tends to see her own shortcomings and unacceptable impulses in others, she is displaying which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable impulses, feelings or behaviors to others. In this scenario, Mary is projecting her own shortcomings and unacceptable impulses onto others.

Question 10

Persons who are projecting

Accepted Answer

The answer of Persons who are projecting
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Question 11

When the explanation you give for your behavior is reasonable and convincing, but not the real reason, you are using the defense mechanism of

Accepted Answer

Rationalization is when you come up with a reasonable explanation for your behavior that isn't the real reason for it.

Question 12

"I don't believe it" is to denial as an adult saying, "I'm going home to mother!" is to

Accepted Answer

"I'm going home to mother!" is a clear example of regression, which is the act of reverting back to an earlier stage of development or behavior. The phrase suggests a desire to return to a time when one was taken care of by their mother, which is a behavior associated with childhood.

Question 13

An attempt to overcome personal deficiencies (real or imagined) by excelling in some activity is called

Accepted Answer

Compensation refers to an attempt to overcome personal deficiencies, whether real or imagined, by excelling in some activity. This can be a way to compensate for feelings of inferiority or insecurity and boost self-esteem. Rationalization involves justifying or explaining away behavior in a more acceptable way, sublimation involves channeling negative impulses into positive or socially acceptable outlets, and reaction formation involves expressing the opposite of what one truly feels to avoid anxiety or guilt.

Question 14

_____ lowers anxiety by exaggerating negative traits in others, often the very traits the person using this defense mechanism also possesses.

Accepted Answer

Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto others. By exaggerating negative traits in others, individuals may unconsciously be trying to protect themselves from feeling those negative emotions themselves.

Question 15

_____ and _____ are two defense mechanisms that have a decidedly more positive quality than the other mechanisms.

Accepted Answer

Compensation involves making up for a perceived deficiency in one area by excelling in another area, while sublimation involves channeling negative or unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors or outlets. Both of these mechanisms involve constructive and adaptive coping strategies, unlike the other defense mechanisms which involve more maladaptive strategies.

Question 16

When we use _____, we attribute our own shortcomings and unacceptable feelings to others.

Accepted Answer

Projection is the defense mechanism in which we project our own unwanted or unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or impulses onto another person. It happens when we are not comfortable accepting or acknowledging something about ourselves and instead, project it onto someone else. This mechanism allows us to blame others for our own shortcomings or negative feelings.

Question 17

A greedy shop owner uses deceptive business practices because he believes that his customers are out to cheat him anyway they can.This shop owner is protecting his self-image by using which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Projection is a defense mechanism where a person attributes their faults, shortcomings, or unwanted thoughts onto someone else. In this case, the shop owner is projecting his belief of customers being cheaters onto them, which allows him to protect his self-image and justify his deceptive business practices.

Question 18

Regarding defense mechanisms, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The overuse of defense mechanisms may actually hinder the individual's ability to adapt to changing situations and hinder personal growth.

Question 19

Jason offers his professor a reasonable and convincing explanation for missing class, but the real reason for his absence was that he wanted to go to a party.Jason is utilizing which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Jason is using rationalization to justify his absence from class by creating a reasonable excuse to cover up his real motivation for attending the party.

Question 20

Andre was not invited to any holiday parties, but she said that she would not have gone if asked because holidays are a time to spend with your family.Andre is using which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Andre is using rationalization by providing a justification for her lack of participation in holiday parties that helps to alleviate the discomfort of feeling excluded.

Quiz 13: Extension B: Health, Stress, and Coping