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Question

Difficulty: EasyCoping Mechanisms

Match each client scenario or statement to the correct defense mechanism it demonstrates.

  • A client with intense feelings of aggression channels their energy into becoming a successful professional boxer.Sublimation
  • A client who deeply resents their aging parent expresses exaggerated feelings of devotion and becomes overly protective of them.Reaction formation
  • A 7-year-old child hospitalized for surgery begins sucking their thumb and experiencing enuresis (bedwetting).Regression
  • A client fired for chronic tardiness tells a friend, 'I didn't want that job anyway because the commute was terrible.'Rationalization

Answer

The aggressive client boxing demonstrates Sublimation. The resentful client acting overly protective demonstrates Reaction formation. The 7-year-old sucking their thumb demonstrates Regression. The fired client blaming the commute demonstrates Rationalization.
Each defense mechanism has a distinct clinical presentation. Sublimation turns negative energy into positive actions. Reaction formation turns unacceptable feelings into their exact opposite expressions. Regression involves falling back to childhood coping behaviors under severe stress. Rationalization creates self-serving, logical-sounding excuses to protect the ego from harsh realities.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the scenario of the client who channels aggression into boxing.
Identify that an unacceptable instinctual drive is being converted into a socially acceptable action.
This is the classic clinical definition of sublimation, which is an adaptive coping mechanism.
2
Analyze the scenario of the client with the aging parent.
Identify that the client's outward behavior (extreme devotion) is the exact opposite of their internal feeling (deep resentment).
Displaying the opposite behavior to conceal true, unacceptable feelings is the definition of reaction formation.
3
Analyze the scenario of the hospitalized 7-year-old child.
Recognize that thumb-sucking and enuresis are behaviors typical of a younger developmental stage.
Returning to earlier developmental behaviors during times of severe physiological or psychological stress is known as regression.
4
Analyze the scenario of the fired client.
Notice the client is making a socially acceptable excuse (terrible commute) to cover up the real reason for their failure (chronic tardiness).
Using logical-sounding excuses to justify a bruised ego or unacceptable outcome is the mechanism of rationalization.

Key Concept

Defense Mechanisms
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Coping Mechanisms

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