When Carol was eight years old, her mother died. As an adult, Carol has no memories of attending her mother's funeral. Which ego defense mechanism in Freud's theory would best account for the fact that Carol has no memories of this upsetting event?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Repression is the ego defense mechanism that involves pushing distressing thoughts and memories out of conscious awareness. Carol's lack of memory of attending her mother's funeral suggests that she may have unconsciously repressed this upsetting event as a way of protecting herself from the painful emotions associated with it.

When Carol Was Eight Years Old, Her Mother Died