Defense Mechanisms

Tim is a shop owner and a thief. He automatically accuses anyone who looks suspicious in his store of stealing. This is an example of what defense mechanism?

• Repression

• Reaction Formation

• Denial

• Projection

• Sublimation

Karen decides to go out and party the whole week before her midterm instead of study. She fails her midterm, and tells her parents that she failed it due to being sick and not getting enough sleep. This is an example of what defense mechanism?

• Rationalization

• Sublimation

• Denial

• Repression

• Reaction Formation Reaction Formation

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?

• Repression

• Sublimation

• Denial

• Reaction Formation

• Projection

Jenny blocks her bad memories of high school bullies from her mind. This is an example of what defense mechanism?

• Denial

• Reaction Formation

• Projection

• Repression

• Sublimation

James's favorite uncle passes away from a long battle with illness, but he refuses to believe that it happened. This is an example of what defense mechanism?

• Denial

• Reaction Formation

• Sublimation

• Repression

• Projection

Mrs. Brown often accuses other women of talkingtoo much and spreading rumors. It is rather obvious to those who know her that she is revealing her own inclinations in that area.

• regression
• repression
• projection
• rationalization

Paul, an aggressive child, had problems in elementary school, as he would frequently fight with other children. Paul found when he entered high school that he could channel this hostility into sports such as football and soccer.

• sublimation
• reaction formation
• projection
• regression

Mike is always trying to impress his pals with how strong and independent he has become. However,when Mike has social or emotional problems, he still wants his dad to figure out the solution.

• repression
• regression
• reaction formation
• displacement

This is when a person tries to make up for his/her weaknesses by developing strengths in other areas?

• Denial

• Humor

• Compensation

• Day Dreaming

›A boy who is extremely jealous of his girlfriend but does not want to admit to himself that he is threatened by her independence may claim, “I’m not jealous—she’s the one who’s always asking where, I’ve been, who that girl was I was talking to. She’s the one who’s jealous. Would be an example of 

• Reaction Formation
• Displacement
• Projection
• Sublimation