Ego Defense Mechanisms Quiz

A nursing student becoming a critical care nurse because this is the specialty of an instructor she admires is an example of ____________.

In projection, there is unconscious blaming of unacceptable inclinations or thoughts on an external object, like a man who has thought about a same-gender sexual relationship but never had one, beating a man who is gay. This is an example of ____________.

When a person shows no emotional expression when discussing a serious car accident, it is an example of ____________.

Excusing own behavior to avoid guilt, responsibility, conflict, anxiety, or loss of self-respect is called ____________.

In reaction formation, a person acts the opposite of what they think or feel. An example is a woman who never wanted to have children becoming a super-mom. This is an example of ____________.

Moving back to a previous developmental stage in order to feel safe or have needs met is known as ____________.

Compensation: Overachievement in one area to offset real or perceived deficiencies in another area is an example of an ego defense mechanism called ______

Conversion: Expression of an emotional conflict through the development of a physical symptom is a defense mechanism, usually sensorimotor in nature. An example is a teenager developing blindness after being forbidden to see X-rated movies; this is an example of ______

Denial: Failure to acknowledge an unbearable condition or admit the reality of a situation is a defense mechanism. An example is waiting 3 days to seek help for severe abdominal pain; this is an example of ______

Displacement: Ventilation of intense feelings toward persons less threatening than the one who aroused those feelings is a defense mechanism. An example is being mad at someone and mistreating a younger sibling; this is an example of ______

Dissociation: Dealing with emotional conflict by a temporary alteration in consciousness or identity is a defense mechanism. An example is amnesia that prevents recall of yesterday's auto accident; this is an example of ______

Fixation: Immobilization of a portion of the personality resulting from unsuccessful completion of tasks in a developmental stage is a defense mechanism. An example is an adult remembering nothing of childhood sexual abuse; this is an example of ______