Psychosocial Integrity: Defense Mechanisms

Purpose of defense mechanisms is to reduce ________.

Anxiety

When a person is consciously choosing to disbelieve the truth, they are using _________.

Denial

Defense mechanisms are always unhealthy. (T/F)

False, in fact defense mechanisms are often and most always healthy b/c they reduce anxiety.

When a pt hates someone, but then expresess the opposite emotion, it is called ________.

Reaction formation — you form the opposite reaction, i.e., you love a person and that makes you anxious, so you form the opposite reaction, and you ignore them.

When an angry pt says, “ I’m NOT mad, HE IS” they are using ________.

Projection

When a person is unconsciously choosing to disbelieve the truth, they are using ________.

Repression

When the patient makes an excuse about something bad that happened, they are ______.

Rationalizing

When a patient becomes demanding and self-centered and attention -seeking, the defense mechanism used is ________.

Regression

Defense mechanisms are ways to lie to yourself. (T/F)

True, they all involve self-deception.

When a patient tells all kinds of details about very upsetting events but acts very cool and calm, they are using ____________.

Intellectualization

When a patient expresses their emotions toward another object they are using __________.

Displacement

The defense mechanism most suspected of causing psychosomatic illness is ___________.

Repression