NCLEX- Defense Mechanisms Questions
And Answers
Altruism dealing with anxiety by reaching out to others
EX: reaching out to someone who you think doesn't like you
Sublimation dealing with unpleasant thoughts, feelings and impulses by substituting them
for acceptable forms of expression
EX: person with anger issues joins the football team to release anger
Suppression voluntarily denying unpleasant thoughts, feelings and emotions
EX: a person who experiences trauma refuses to talk or think about the event
Repression unconsciously putting unpleasant thoughts, feelings and emotions out of
awareness
EX: a child is bit by a dog and later in life develops a phobia of dogs but has no idea how that
started or why they're scared
Regression sudden use of childlike behaviors that do not correlate with the persons current
developmental age/level
And Answers
Altruism dealing with anxiety by reaching out to others
EX: reaching out to someone who you think doesn't like you
Sublimation dealing with unpleasant thoughts, feelings and impulses by substituting them
for acceptable forms of expression
EX: person with anger issues joins the football team to release anger
Suppression voluntarily denying unpleasant thoughts, feelings and emotions
EX: a person who experiences trauma refuses to talk or think about the event
Repression unconsciously putting unpleasant thoughts, feelings and emotions out of
awareness
EX: a child is bit by a dog and later in life develops a phobia of dogs but has no idea how that
started or why they're scared
Regression sudden use of childlike behaviors that do not correlate with the persons current
developmental age/level
