Spot The Shield: Psychology Quiz On Defense Mechanisms

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  • 1/10 Questions

    Tony's friends confront him about his excess drinking, but he thinks he doesn't have a problem. Bill is experiencing:

    • Denial
    • Repression
    • Rationalization
    • Projection
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About This Quiz

Are you ready to play a quiz on psychology quiz on defense mechanism? In psychoanalytic theory, a defense mechanism can be understood as an unconscious psychological operation to protect a person from thoughts that are anxiety-producing as well as feelings related to internal conflicts and outer stressors. So, here are some questions. Let's see how many of them you answer correctly. We wish you all the best with the test.

Spot The Shield: Psychology Quiz On Defense Mechanisms - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Jose has an argument with his boss and yells at his kids when he gets home. Which defense mechanism is Mary displaying?

    • Displacement

    • Reaction Formation

    • Rationalization

    • Repression

    Correct Answer
    A. Displacement
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 3. 

    Ashley was abused as a child. She doesn't remember the abuse but now struggles to trust others and form relationships.

    • Repression

    • Rationalization

    • Projection

    • Sublimation

    Correct Answer
    A. Repression
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 4. 

    There is this girl at work who I hate so much. She's intimidating, disrespectful, and offensive. Strangely, she's now one of my best friends, and we get on really well.

    • Sublimation

    • Rationalization

    • Reaction Formation

    • Projection

    Correct Answer
    A. Reaction Formation
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 5. 

    Alexis is angry with Matt, but eventually, she becomes friends with him and is nice to him. This is an example of what defense mechanism?

    • Reaction Formation

    • Rationalization

    • Repression

    • Projection

    Correct Answer
    A. Reaction Formation
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 6. 

    Instead of taking out his anger on others, Nathan, when he gets really angry, plays the saxophone. This is an example of what defense mechanism?

    • Sublimation

    • Displacement

    • Projection

    • Repression

    Correct Answer
    A. Sublimation
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 7. 

    A man who cheats on his wife accuses her of being unfaithful. This is an example of:

    • Projection

    • Displacement

    • Regression

    • Rationalization

    Correct Answer
    A. Projection
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 8. 

    Karen decides to go out and party the whole week before her midterm instead of studying. She fails her midterm and tells her parents that she failed it due to being sick and not getting enough sleep.

    • Rationalization

    • Projection

    • Displacement

    • Denial

    Correct Answer
    A. Rationalization
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 9. 

    Argh, my mother-in-law has come to stay for the weekend, and she's driving me crazy. I'm just staying out of the way by doing the housework so that I don't have to talk to her.

    • Sublimation

    • Reaction Formation

    • Repression

    • Projection

    Correct Answer
    A. Sublimation
    Explanation
    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.

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  • 10. 

    Clare gets fired and blames her job loss on her co-workers. This is an example of which defense mechanism?

    • Displacement

    • Denial

    • Rationalization 

    • Projection

    Correct Answer
    A. Displacement
    Explanation
    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.

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  • Current Version
  • May 12, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Nov 30, 2017
    Quiz Created by
    Amy H
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