defense mechanisms

Mac, who is alcohol-dependent, believes that he can control his drinking if he so desires

denial

Anna, a victim of incest, has limited memory of her childhood

repression

Aaron states to the nurse that his recent divorce is no big deal

suppression

John tells his mom that he bit his sister because she pushed him first

rationalization

Rene talks about her son’s death from cancer as being merciful and shows no signs of her sadness or anger

intellectualization

Mrs. Adams recalls that when her husband was yelling at her, she didn’t feel anything inside, she just went numb

dissociation

Kelly states to her nurse, “When I get out of the hospital, I want to be a nurse just like you.”

identification

Without realizing it, Marie talks and acts similarly to her therapist, analyzing other patients

introjection

Malcom, who is depressed and unable to share his feelings with others, writes and becomes known for his expressive poetry

compensation

Guy, a former heroin addict, starts a local Narcotics Anonymous meeting

sublimation

Wren, whose parents are divorcing, tells her mother that she doesn’t want to spend time with her dad (so her mother doesn’t get mad), even though she really misses him

reaction formation

After accidentally eating another patient’s cookies, Donnelly apologizes to his peer, cleans the refrigerator, and labels everyone’s snacks with their names

undoing

A husband comes home after a hard day at work and yells at his wife and kids

displacement

Connie blames her husband for the fight last night, unable to recognize that she was the one who started it

projectionA

A student awakens with a migraine headache the morning of a final exam and feels to ill the take the test. If she doesn’t pass the exam, she will flunk out of nursing school

conversion

A 5 year old child has been wetting the bet at night since the birth of his baby sister

regression