Spot The Shield: Psychology Quiz On Defense Mechanisms

Tony's friends confronting him about his excessive drinking indicates that they are trying to make him aware of his problem. However, Tony's belief that he doesn't have a problem suggests that he is in a state of denial. Denial is a defense mechanism where individuals refuse to acknowledge or accept the reality of a situation, often to protect themselves from the discomfort or consequences associated with it. In this case, Tony is unwilling to admit that his drinking habits may be problematic, which is a common characteristic of denial.

Displacement is a defense mechanism where a person redirects their negative emotions or impulses towards a less threatening or safer target. In this scenario, Jose is displacing his anger and frustration from the argument with his boss onto his kids by yelling at them. Instead of expressing his true emotions towards his boss, he is using his kids as a substitute target for his displaced anger. This allows him to release his pent-up emotions while avoiding direct confrontation with his boss.

The correct answer is repression. Repression is a defense mechanism in which painful or traumatic memories are pushed into the unconscious mind to protect the individual from emotional distress. In this case, Ashley's inability to remember the abuse she experienced as a child suggests that she may have repressed those memories. This repression has led to her current struggle with trust and forming relationships, as she is unable to fully process and confront the trauma she endured.

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously adopts attitudes or behaviors that are the opposite of their true feelings or impulses. In this scenario, the individual initially hated the girl at work due to her intimidating, disrespectful, and offensive behavior. However, instead of expressing these negative feelings, the person developed a strong friendship with her. This can be seen as a form of reaction formation, where the person's true feelings of hatred are transformed into positive feelings and behaviors towards the girl.

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where a person expresses the opposite of what they truly feel. In this scenario, Alexis is initially angry with Matt but later becomes friends with him and is nice to him. This can be seen as a reaction formation because she is behaving in a way that is opposite to her initial anger. Instead of expressing her anger, she is showing kindness and friendship towards Matt.

Projection is the correct answer because it refers to the psychological defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives onto someone else. In this scenario, the man cheating on his wife is projecting his own infidelity onto her by accusing her of being unfaithful. He is displacing his guilt onto her, using projection as a way to avoid taking responsibility for his actions.

Sublimation is the defense mechanism where one redirects their unacceptable impulses or emotions into socially acceptable behaviors. In this case, Nathan redirects his anger into playing the saxophone, which is a socially acceptable and productive way to channel his emotions. This allows him to express his anger in a healthy and creative manner, rather than taking it out on others.

The given scenario illustrates the defense mechanism of rationalization. Rationalization is a psychological process where individuals justify or explain their actions or behaviors in a rational or logical way, often to avoid taking responsibility or facing the consequences of their actions. In this case, Karen fails her midterm because she chose to party instead of studying. To avoid admitting her poor decision-making, she rationalizes her failure by blaming it on being sick and not getting enough sleep. This allows her to maintain a positive self-image and avoid feelings of guilt or shame.

The individual in the given scenario is using sublimation as a defense mechanism. Sublimation involves redirecting unacceptable or socially inappropriate impulses into more socially acceptable activities. In this case, the person is channeling their frustration and desire to avoid their mother-in-law into productive housework, which is considered a more socially acceptable behavior. By engaging in housework, they are able to avoid direct interaction with their mother-in-law and cope with the situation in a constructive manner.

Displacement is a defense mechanism in which an individual shifts the expression of an unwanted feeling or impulse from a threatening person to a less threatening one. In this case, Clare is displacing the blame for her job loss onto her co-workers, rather than accepting responsibility or considering other factors that may have contributed to her termination.