Comprehensive exams for Mental Health Q 171
Mr. Garcia, an attorney who throws books and furniture around the office after losing a case, is referred to the psychiatric nurse in the law firm’s employee assistance program. Nurse Beatriz knows that the client’s behavior most likely represents the use of which defense mechanism?
A. Regression
B. Projection
C. Reaction-formation
D. Intellectualization
Correct Answer: A. Regression
An adult who throws temper tantrums, such as this one, is displaying regressive behavior, or behavior that is appropriate at a younger age. Adapting one’s behavior to earlier levels of psychosocial development. For example, a stressful event may cause an individual to regress to bed-wetting after they have already outgrown this behavior.
Option B: In projection, the client blames someone or something other than the source. Attributing one’s own maladaptive inner impulses to someone else. For example, someone who commits an episode of infidelity in their marriage may then accuse their partner of infidelity or may become more suspicious of their partner.
Option C: In reaction formation, the client acts in opposition to his feelings. Replacing one’s initial impulse toward a situation or idea with the opposite impulse. This defense mechanism may be present in someone who teases or insults a romantic interest whom they like. Conversely, reaction formation may be present in someone who is overly kind to someone whom they dislike.
Option D: In intellectualization, the client overuses rational explanations or abstract thinking to decrease the significance of a feeling or event. The development of patterns of excessive thinking or over-analyzing, which may increase the distance from one’s emotions. For example, someone who is diagnosed with a terminal illness does not show emotion after the diagnosis is given but instead starts to research every source they can find about the illness.