WBR0288

Author	[[PageAuthor::Ayokunle Olubaniyi, M.B,B.S [1]]]
Exam Type	ExamType::USMLE Step 1
Main Category	MainCategory::Behavioral Science/Psychiatry
Sub Category
Prompt	Prompt::A husband who is planning on divorcing his wife woke up one night and tells her “darling, I noticed you don’t love me anymore ever since my brother moved in”. This is an example of what defense mechanism?
Answer A	AnswerA::Acting out
Answer A Explanation	[[AnswerAExp::Incorrect. Acting out is expressing unacceptable feelings and thought through actions. For example, instead of saying, “I’m angry with you,” a person who acts out may instead throw a book at the person. Another example is tantrums in children.]]
Answer B	AnswerB::Displacement
Answer B Explanation	[[AnswerBExp::Incorrect. Displacement is the redirection of thoughts, feelings and impulses (usually aggression) onto a powerless target –a neutral person or an object. For example, a husband having a bad day at work gets home and takes it out on his wife.]]
Answer C	AnswerC::Reaction formation
Answer C Explanation	AnswerCExp::Incorrect. Reaction formation is when a person behaves in the opposite way to which he/she thinks and feels. For example, a man fed up of his job expresses strong desire to continue working there forever.
Answer D	AnswerD::Projection
Answer D Explanation	[[AnswerDExp::Correct. Projection is a defense mechanism that involves taking our own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people. For example, if you have a strong hate for someone, you might believe that he or she does not like you.]]
Answer E	AnswerE::Denial
Answer E Explanation	[[AnswerEExp::Incorrect. Denial is the refusal to admit or recognize that something has occurred or is currently occurring. Drug addicts never admits of having a problem, while victims of traumatic events may deny that the event ever occurred. Denial is regarded as the most primitive of all the defense mechanisms. The act of denial block external events from conscious awareness.]]
Right Answer	RightAnswer::D
Explanation	[[Explanation::Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play by the unconscious mind to manipulate, deny or distort reality. They explain how people distance themselves from a conscious awareness of unpleasant thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They are based on Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytical theories. They include acting out, dissociation, denial, displacement, reaction formation, projection, regression, splitting, e.t.c. Educational Objective: References: ]]
Approved	Approved::Yes
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