Ego Defense Mechanisms (GNP II-Psych Exam 1)
Regression
A 5-year-old asks for a bottle when new baby brother is being fed
3. Conversion (The development of physical symptoms without a physical cause is an anxiety-reducing mechanism known as conversion)
A client is habitually expressing anxiety through physical symptoms. Which defense mechanism identified by the nurse is being used by this client? 1. Projection 2. Regression 3. Conversion 4. Hypochondriasis
D. Rationalization (Rationalization is the defense mechanism that involves offering excuses for maladaptive behavior. The client is defending his substance abuse by providing reasons related to life stressors)
A client who abuses alcohol and cocaine tells a nurse that he only uses substances because of his stressful marriage and difficult job. Which defense mechanism is this client using? A. Sublimation B. Displacement C. Projection D. Rationalization
4. Intellectualization (Intellectualization occurs when a painful emotion is avoided by means of a rational explanation that removes the event from any personal significance.)
A client with diabetes is able to discuss in great detail the metabolic process in diabetes, while eating a piece of chocolate cake with butter frosting. What defense mechanism does the nurse identify when evaluating this behavior? 1. Rejection 2. Dissociation 3. Displacement 4. Intellectualization
1. Dissociation (Talking in the third person reflects poor ego boundaries and a dissociation from the real self)
A male client experiencing delusion of persecution and auditory hallucinations is admitted for psychiatric evaluation. Later the nurse on the unit greets the client by say, "Good evening, how are you?" The client, who has been referring to himself as "Man", answers, "The man is bad." This is an example of: 1. Dissociation 2. Transference 3. Displacement 4. Reaction formation
3. Compensation (By developing skills in one area, the individual compensates or makes up for a real or imagined deficiency, thereby maintaining a positive self-image.
A male college student, who is smaller than average and unable to participate in sports, becomes the life of the party and a stylish dresser. The nurse identifies this as an example of the defense mechanism of: 1. Introjection 2. Sublimation 3. Compensation 4. Reaction formation
Conversion
A teenager forbidden to see X-rated movies is tempted to do so by friends and develops blindness, and the teenager is unconcerned about the loss of sight
1. Are using denial
About a month after their toddler is diagnosed as moderately retarded, the parents discuss the toddler's future, reflecting specifically on plans for their child's independent functioning. The nurse recognizes that the parents: 1. Are using denial 2. Accept the child's diagnosis 3. Are using intellectualization 4. Accept their child's limitations
Introjection
Accepting another person's attitudes, beliefs, and values as one's own
Reaction Formation
Acting the opposite of what one thinks or feels
Dissociation
Adult remembers nothing of childhood sexual abuse
Dissociation
Amnesia that prevents recall of yesterday's auto accident
A. Regression (Regression, a return to earlier behavior to reduce anxiety, is the basic defense mechanism in schizophrenia) (Projection is a defense mechanism used primarily by people with paranoid schizophrenia and delusional disorder)
Brent is admitted to a psych unit with a diagnosis of undifferentiated schizophrenia. Which of the following defense mechanisms is probably used by Brent? A. Regression B. Repression C. Projection D. Rationalization
Displacement
Child who is harassed by a bully at school mistreats a younger sibling
Suppression
Conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts and feelings from conscious awareness
Dissociation
Dealing with emotional conflict by a temporary alteration in consciousness or identity
Denial
Diabetic person eating chocolate candy
Repression
Excluding emotionally painful or anxiety-provoking thoughts and feelings from conscious awareness
Rationalization
Excusing own behavior to avoid guilt, responsibility, conflict, anxiety, or loss of self-respect
Undoing
Exhibiting acceptable behavior to make up for or negate unacceptable behavior
Conversion
Expression of an emotional conflict through development of a physical symptom, usually sensorimotor in nature
Denial
Failure to acknowledge an unbearable condition; failure to admit the reality of a situation or how one enables the problem to continue
Fixation
Immobilization of a portion of the personality resulting from unsuccessful completion of tasks in a developmental stage
1. Repression (Repression is a coping mechanism in which unacceptable feelings are kept out of conscious awareness; later, under stress and anxiety, thoughts or feelings surface and come into the conscious awareness)
Incidence of child molestation often are revealed years later when the victim is an adult. The nurse teaches that this can best be explained by the ego defense mechanism of: 1. Repression 2. Regression 3. Rationalization 4. Reaction formation
Fixation
Lack of clear sense of identity as an adult
Regression
Man pouts like a 4-year-old if he is not the center of his girlfriend's attention
Rationalization
Man says he beats his wife because she does not listen to him
Projection
Man who has thought about same-gender sexual relationship but never had one beats a man who is gay
Undoing
Man who is ruthless in business donates large amounts of money to charity
Identification
Modeling actions and opinions of influential others while searching for identity, or aspiring to reach a personal, social, or occupational goal
Regression
Moving back to a previous developmental stage to feel safe or have needs met
B. Regression (An adult who throws temper tantrums, such as this one, is displaying regressive behavior, or behavior that is appropriate for a younger child)
Mr. Warren, an attorney who throws books and furniture around the office after losing a case is referred to the psychiatric nurse in the law firm's employe assistance program. Nurse Lorraine knows that the client's behavior most likely represent the use of which defense mechanism? A. Projection B. Regression C. Intellectualization D. Reaction-formation
Compensation
Napoleon Complex: Diminutive man becoming emperor
Fixation
Never learning to delay gratification
C. Denial
Nurse Lucas is aware that the defense mechanism commonly used by clients who are alcoholics is: A. Displacement B. Compensation C. Denial D. Projection
D. Projection
Nurse Raffy recognizes that paranoid delusions usually are related to the defense mechanism of: A. Regression B. Repression C. Identification D. Projection
Compensation
Nurse with low self-esteem working double shifts so that her supervisor will like her
Identification
Nursing student becoming a critical care nurse because that is the specialty of an instructor she admires
2. Projection (Attributing unacceptable feelings or attributes to others is the mechanism known as projection)
One day a male client with the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder describes a situation that happened at work when his immediate supervisor reprimanded him for not completing an assignment. He explains that it was not his fault and states, "people get angry and take it out on me." Which defense mechanism identified by the nurse was the client using in this situation? 1. Denial 2. Projection 3. Displacement 4. Intellectualization
Compensation
Overachievement in one area to offset real or perceived deficiencies in another area
Resistance
Overt or covert antagonism toward remembering or processing anxiety-producing information
Resistance
Person attends court-ordered treatment for alcoholism but refuses to participate
Sublimation
Person goes for a 15-minute walk when tempted to eat junk food
Intellectualization
Person shows no emotional expression when discussing serious car accident
Undoing
Person who cheats on a spouse brings the spouse a bouquet of roses
Reaction Formation
Person who despises the boss tells everyone what a great boss she is
Introjection
Person who dislikes guns becomes an avid hunter, just like best friend
Sublimation
Person who has quit smoking sucks on hard candy when the urge to smoke arises
Displacement
Person who is mad at their boss yells at their spouse
Projection
Person with many prejudices loudly identifies others as bigots
Substitution
Replacing the desired gratification with one that is more readily available
Intellectualization
Separation of the emotions of a painful event or situation from the facts involved; acknowledging the facts but not the emotions
Denial
Spending money freely when broke
Rationalization
Student blames failure on the teacher being mean
Suppression
Student decides not to think about a parent's illness to study for a test
Sublimation
Substituting a socially acceptable activity for an impulse that is unacceptable
4. Directing pent-up emotions to other than the primary source (When acting-out against the primary source of anxiety creates even further anxiety or danger, the individual may use displacement to express feelings on a safer person or object)
The nurse identifies that a client is using displacement. Which client behavior has the nurse identified? 1. Ignoring unpleasant aspects of reality 2. Resisting any demands made by others 3. Using imaginative activity to escape reality 4. Directing pent-up emotions to other than the primary source
Resistance
The nurse is too busy with tasks to spend time talking to a dying patient
Projection
Unconscious blaming of unacceptable inclinations or thoughts on an external object
Displacement
Ventilation of intense feelings toward person less threatening than the one who aroused those feelings
Denial
Waiting 3 days to seek help for severe abdominal pain
3. Displacement (Displacement is a defense mechanism in which one's pent-up feelings toward a threatening person are discharged on less-threatening others.)
When teaching about child abuse, the nurse includes the fact that the defense mechanism most often used by the physically abusive individual is: 1. Transference 2. Manipulation 3. Displacement 4. Reaction formation
Repression
Woman has no memory before age 7, when she was removed from abusive parents
Repression
Woman has no memory of the mugging she suffered yesterday
Suppression
Woman tells a friend that she cannot think about her son's death right now
Reaction Formation
Woman who never wanted to have children becomes a supermom
Substitution
Woman who would like to have her own children opens a day care center
