Defense Mechanisms

Notes

People use defense, or coping, mechanisms to relieve anxiety. The definitions below will help you determine whether your patient is using one or more of these mechanisms.

  1. Acting Out
    • Acting out refers to repeating certain actions to ward off anxiety without weighing the possible consequences of those action.
    • Example: A husband gets angry with his wife and starts staying at work later.
  2. Compensation
    • Also called substitution.
    • It involves trying to make up for feelings of inadequacy or frustration in one area by excelling or overindulging in another.
    • Example: An adolescent takes up jogging because he failed to make the swimming team.
  3. Denial
    • A person in denial protects himself from reality – especially the unpleasant aspects of life – by refusing to perceive, acknowledge, or face it.
    • Example: A woman newly diagnosed with end-stage-cancer says, “I’ll be okay, it’s not a big deal”.
  4. Displacement
    • In displacement, the person redirects his impulses (commonly anger) from the real target (because that target is too dangerous) to a safer but innocent person.
    • Example: A patient yells at a nurse after becoming angry at his mother for not calling him.
  5. Fantasy
    • Fantasy refers to creation of unrealistic or improbable images as a way of escaping from daily pressures and responsibilities or to relieve boredom.
    • Example: A person may daydream excessively, watch TV for hours on end, or imagine being highly successful when he feels unsuccessful. Engaging in such activities makes him feel better for a brief period.
  6. Identification
    • In identification, the person unconsciously adopts the personality characteristics, attitudes, values, and behavior of someone else (such as a hero he emulates and admires) as a way to allay anxiety. He may identify with a group to be more accepted by them.
    • Example: An adolescent girl begins to dress and act like her favorite pop star.
  7. Intellectualization
    • Also called isolation.
    • Intellectualization refers to hiding one’s emotional responses or problems under a façade of big words and pretending there’s no problem.
    • Example: After failing to obtain a job promotion, a worker explains that the position failed to meet his expectations for climbing the corporate ladder.
  8. Introjection
    • A person introjects when he adopts someone else’s values and standards without exploring whether they fit him.
    • Example: An individual begins to follow a strict vegetarian diet for no apparent reason.
  9. Projection
    • In projection, the person attributes to others his own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and impulses.
    • Example: A student who fails a test blames his parents for having the television on too loud when he was trying to study.
  10. Rationalization
    • Rationalization occurs when a person substitutes acceptable reasons for the real or actual reasons that are motivating his behavior.
    • The rationalizing patient makes excuses for shortcomings and avoids self-condemnation, displacements, and criticisms.
    • Example: An individual states that she didn’t win the race because she hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep.
  11. Reaction Formation
    • In reaction formation, the person behaves the opposite of the way he feels.
    • Example: Love turns to hate and hate into love.
  12. Regression
    • Under stress, a person may regress by returning to the behaviors he used in an earlier, more comfortable time in his life.
    • Example: A previously toilet-trained preschool child begins to wet his bed every night after his baby brother is born.
  13. Repression
    • Repression refers to unconsciously blocking out painful or unacceptable thoughts and feelings, leaving them to operate in the subconscious.
    • Example: A woman who was sexually abused as a young child can’t remember the abuse but experiences uneasy feelings when she goes near the place where the abuse occurred.
  14. Sublimation
    • In sublimation, a person transforms unacceptable needs in acceptable ambitions and actions.
    • Example: He may channel his sex drive into his sports or hobbies.
  15. Undoing
    • In undoing, the person tries to undo the harm he feels he has done to others.
    • Example: A patient who says something bad about a friend may try to undo the harm by saying nice things about her or by being nice to her and apologizing.

Exam

Welcome to your Psychiatric Nursing Practice Exam for Defense Mechanism! This exam is carefully curated to help you consolidate your knowledge and gain deeper understanding on the topic.

 

Exam Details

  • Number of Questions: 20 items
  • Mode: Practice Mode

Exam Instructions

  1. Practice Mode: This mode aims to facilitate effective learning and review.
  2. Instant Feedback: After each question, the correct answer along with an explanation will be revealed. This is to help you understand the reasoning behind the correct answer, helping to reinforce your learning.
  3. Time Limit: There is no time limit for this exam. Take your time to understand each question and the corresponding choices.

Tips For Success

  • Read each question carefully. Take your time and don't rush.
  • Understand the rationale behind each answer. This will not only help you during this exam, but also assist in reinforcing your learning.
  • Don't be discouraged by incorrect answers. Use them as an opportunity to learn and improve.
  • Take breaks if you need them. It's not a race, and your understanding is what's most important.
  • Keep a positive attitude and believe in your ability to succeed.

Remember, this exam is not just a test of your knowledge, but also an opportunity to enhance your understanding and skills. Enjoy the learning journey!

 

Click 'Start Exam' when you're ready to begin. Best of luck!

💡 Hint

Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and intense episodes of fear and anxiety, often accompanied by physical symptoms. Focus on identifying the symptom that is not commonly linked to panic attacks.

1 / 20

1. In a bustling emergency department, Nurse Alex encounters patients with various medical conditions. As he reviews the symptoms associated with panic disorder, he identifies some common characteristics. Among the following options, which one is not typically associated with panic disorder?

💡 Hint

This defense mechanism involves attributing one's own feelings or thoughts, particularly those that cause guilt, onto others. It is like seeing in others what you cannot accept in yourself.

2 / 20

2. As an experienced nurse, Robert is caring for a patient who exhibits signs of paranoid delusions. Robert understands there's a connection between these delusions and a particular psychological defense mechanism. Which defense mechanism is generally linked with the occurrence of paranoid delusions in Robert's patient?

💡 Hint

The stage typically associated with older adults, particularly those in late adulthood (ages 65 and older), is where individuals reflect on their lives, finding a sense of satisfaction and wisdom or experiencing feelings of regret.

3 / 20

3. In a vibrant and supportive senior living community, Nurse Lisa interacts with elderly residents daily. As she contemplates the psychological stages of development in older adults, she wonders which category a 70-year-old adult would fall into.

💡 Hint

This condition involves the inability to recognize the location of one's own body parts. It is often seen in patients with brain injuries or neurological disorders.

4 / 20

4. Amidst the bustling activity of a neurology clinic, Nurse Sarah encounters a patient with a unique condition. The patient has difficulty identifying the location of their hand or foot. Which term best describes this condition?

💡 Hint

The stage typically associated with young adulthood (ages 20 to 40) involves individuals seeking close and meaningful relationships.

5 / 20

5. In a bustling university campus, Nurse Lisa engages with young adults daily. As she contemplates the psychological stages of development in young adulthood, she wonders which category a 20-year-old adult would fall into.

💡 Hint

They are often used by people with schizophrenia or other mental health conditions.

6 / 20

6. In a bustling psychiatric ward, Nurse Sarah encounters a patient who is using words with no known meaning. As she ponders the condition associated with this language pattern, which term best describes it?

💡 Hint

Parallel play is a stage of social play where children play alongside each other without direct interaction. It commonly starts during the second year of life and continues into the second half of the second year and beyond.

7 / 20

7. In a vibrant and joyful preschool setting, Nurse Lily is observing toddlers as they engage in various activities. While witnessing the children's interactions, she reflects on the development of parallel play. During which age range does parallel play typically emerge?

💡 Hint

This sleep disorder involves sudden and unexpected episodes of falling asleep, often occurring in response to intense emotions or stimulating situations. It is commonly associated with a condition called "sleep attacks."

8 / 20

8. In a bustling sleep disorders clinic, Nurse Michelle encounters a unique case where an individual who is fully awake suddenly falls asleep without warning. How can this condition be best described?

💡 Hint

Think about the physical development that is necessary for a baby to be able to sit up without assistance.

9 / 20

9. On a sunny afternoon at the pediatric clinic, Nurse Olivia observes baby Mia during her regular checkup. Amid the coos and giggles, she knows there's a particular developmental milestone that Mia should reach soon. At what age can she anticipate Mia will start sitting up without any assistance?

💡 Hint

The stage typically associated with middle adulthood (ages 40 to 65) involves individuals striving to contribute to society and the next generation, or they may feel unproductive.

10 / 20

10. In a vibrant and supportive senior living community, Nurse Lisa interacts with elderly residents daily. As she contemplates the psychological stages of development in older adults, she wonders which category a 60-year-old adult would fall into.

💡 Hint

Remember to associate this disorder with physical symptoms that manifest due to psychological distress, although no physical cause can be identified.

11 / 20

11. As Nurse John navigates his bustling day on the neurology floor, he comes across various psychological disorders. Among these, he reflects on one particular disorder where severe emotional stress provokes an involuntary disruption in physical functions. What is this disorder known as?

💡 Hint

The waveform associated with being awake and engaged in active mental activity is often faster and has a higher frequency.

12 / 20

12. In the bustling world of a hospital's sleep disorders clinic, Nurse Emily is analyzing EEG (electroencephalogram) recordings of various patients. While reviewing the different waveforms observed during wakefulness, she wonders which one is the most commonly found. Which waveform is it?

💡 Hint

Light sleepers often have brainwave activity characterized by this frequency range.

13 / 20

13. In a serene sleep clinic, Nurse Michelle observes various sleep patterns in different individuals. Among these, she contemplates the most common waveform associated with light sleepers. What is this waveform?

💡 Hint

Recall that the standard grief stages represent various emotional responses and coping mechanisms related to loss, rather than outright refusal or disapproval.

14 / 20

14. While attending a seminar on grief counseling, Nurse Alex encounters a question: "Out of the listed phases, can you pinpoint which one does not fall within the standard stages of the grieving process?"

💡 Hint

Think about when an individual tries to logically justify an action that might have been driven by a less comfortable or unconscious reason.

15 / 20

15. During her shift, Nurse Jenna takes a quick break and engages in a quiz meant to reinforce her understanding of psychological defense mechanisms. A question reads: "Can you identify the term used when an individual creates seemingly logical excuses for actions that were driven by different, often subconscious, motivations?"

💡 Hint

REM sleep typically occurs in cycles, and each cycle lasts for a specific duration. Think about the average duration of one complete REM sleep cycle.

16 / 20

16. In the serene atmosphere of the sleep laboratory, Nurse Michelle is closely monitoring a patient's sleep patterns. As she observes the different stages of sleep, she contemplates the frequency of the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep cycle. How often does the REM sleep cycle occur, approximately?

💡 Hint

Anxiety often leads to physiological responses, but not all of these responses are directly related to the mouth. Look for signs more commonly associated with increased breathing and stress responses.

17 / 20

17. As Nurse Amanda tends to her patients in a busy emergency room, she ponders the various signs and symptoms of anxiety. Among the listed options, which one is not typically considered a sign of anxiety?

💡 Hint

This defense mechanism involves trying to make up for perceived shortcomings or weaknesses by highlighting other strengths or positive qualities.

18 / 20

18. In the midst of her day at a bustling city healthcare facility, Nurse Jane finds herself reflecting on psychological defense mechanisms, specifically those she's observed in her patient interactions. In this context, which mechanism could be defined as covering up a weakness by emphasizing a desirable or stronger trait?

💡 Hint

Remember, this is a mechanism where an individual might see their own traits in others, but it's not necessarily a true reflection.

19 / 20

19. In the realm of psychiatric nursing, Nurse Emily comes across different coping mechanisms her patients use, some healthier than others. She knows there's one specific term that refers to the unconscious act of attributing one's undesirable characteristic to someone else. Which of these terms aligns with this definition?

💡 Hint

Newborns exhibit several innate reflexes, some of which aid in feeding and protection. However, certain motor skills develop as the infant grows and are not present at birth. Consider which of these reflexes requires a more advanced level of motor control, typically not present in newborns.

20 / 20

20. In the nurturing environment of a maternity ward, Nurse Sarah is conducting routine neonatal assessments. While examining the newborns, she recalls the various reflexes present in these infants. Which of the following reflexes is absent at birth?