Match each client statement or behavior to the corresponding defense mechanism.
- "I am not sick. The laboratory must have mixed up my test results."Denial
- A client who is angry about a new diagnosis yells at the practical nurse about the room temperature.Displacement
- "I only eat sugary snacks because my roommate bakes them all the time."Rationalization
- A hospitalized 7-year-old who has been toilet trained for years begins wetting the bed.Regression
Answer
The client refusing test results matches Denial; the angry client yelling at the nurse matches Displacement; the client blaming the roommate matches Rationalization; and the hospitalized child wetting the bed matches Regression.
Each statement or behavior distinctly illustrates a specific defense mechanism used to protect the ego from anxiety. Denial blocks reality, displacement shifts emotions to a safer target, rationalization fabricates logical excuses, and regression involves returning to earlier behaviors.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Coping Mechanisms and Defense Mechanisms