WorksheetsDefense Mechanisms Examples
Total questions: 7
Worksheet time: 4mins
Scene: After a test.
Student B: “Hey, the grades are posted—you okay?”
Student A (smiling): “I totally passed. I think I got like a 90.”
Student C (checking online): “Um… it says you got a 52.”
Student A (shaking head): “Nope, the system must be wrong. I know I did great.”
Projection
Denial
Compensation
Rationalization
Scene: After cheating on a quiz.
Student B: “Wait… did you look at my paper?”
Student A: “Well yeah, but it’s not really cheating. The teacher didn’t even teach this chapter.”
Student B: “That’s still cheating…”
Student A: “Everyone else probably did it too. It’s not a big deal.”
Rationalization
Displacement
Regression
Denial
Scene: After not making the basketball team.
Student B: “Hey, did you make the team?”
Student A (shrugging): “Nope, but who cares? Basketball’s lame anyway. I’m the best gamer in the whole school.”
Student B: “Oh… okay.”
Escape (Fantasty)
Displacement
Compensation
Regression
Scene: Student A just got yelled at by their parent.
Student A (storming in): “Ugh! This is so unfair!”
Student B (innocently): “Hey, do you want a snack?”
Student A (snapping): “Why do you always bug me? Leave me alone!”
Student B (confused): “Whoa… I didn’t do anything.”
Rationalization
Denial
Projection
Displacement
Scene: Working on a group project.
Student A (frustrated): “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”
Student B: “No… I’m fine.”
Student A: “Yeah you are! You’re the one with an attitude.”
Student B: “I think you’re the one who’s upset…”
Denial
Projection
Compensation
Escape (Fantasy)
Scene: Parent says no to going out.
Student A (whining loudly): “But that’s not fair! Everyone else gets to go!”
Student B (friend/sibling): “You’re acting like a little kid right now.”
Student A (stomps foot, crosses arms): “Fine! I hate this house! You never let me do anything!”
Compensation
Denial
Regression
Projection
Scene: Sitting down to study for a test.
Student B: “Hey, are you ready to start reviewing the notes?”
Student A (staring off dreamily): “Someday I’m going to be TikTok famous and never have to study again.”
Student B: “That’s not going to help you pass tomorrow’s test…”
Student A: “Who cares? I’ll be rich and famous anyway.”
Escape (Fantasy)
Compensation
Projection
Denial
