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Psych HESI Questions and Answers
Latest 2026
Unconscious failure to recognize an event, thought, or
feeling that is too painful for conscious awareness Ans:
Denial
The transference of feelings to another person or object
Ans: Displacement
Attempt to be like someone or emulate the personality,
traits, or behaviors of another person Ans: Identification
Using reason to avoid emotional conflict Ans:
Intellectualization
Incorporation of values or qualities of an admired person
or group into one's own ego structure Ans: Introjection
Separation of an unacceptable feeling, idea, or impulse
from one's thought process Ans: Isolation
Indirectly expressing aggression toward others; a facade
of overt compliance masks covert resentment Ans:
Passive-aggression
Attributing one's own thoughts or impulses to another
person Ans: Projection
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Offering an acceptable, logical explanation to make
unacceptable feelings and behavior acceptable Ans:
Rationalization
Development of conscious attitudes & behaviors that are
the opposite of what is really felt Ans: Reaction
formation
Reverting to an earlier level of development when
anxious or highly stressed Ans: Regression
The INVOLUNTARY exclusion of a painful thought or
memory from awareness Ans: Repression
Substitution of an unacceptable feeling by a more socially
acceptable one Ans: Sublimation
The INTENTIONAL exclusion of feelings and ideas Ans:
Suppression
Communication or behavior done to negate a previously
unacceptable act Ans: Undoing
Seven basic communication principles that can be applied
to all patients Ans: (1) Establish trust. (2) Demonstrate a
nonjudgmental attitude. (3) Be empathetic, not
sympathetic. (4) Use active listening. (5) Accept & support
the pt's feelings. (6) Clarify & validate pt's statements. (7)
Use a matter-of-fact approach
Nurses must remember to keep statements _____________-
free, _____________-free, & _____________-free Ans: Value-
free, advice-free, & reassurance-free. NO OPINIONS!!
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Seven useful phrases Ans: "Tell me about..."
"Go on..."
"I'd like to discuss what you're thinking..."
"What are your thoughts...?"
"Are you saying that...?"
"What are you feeling?"
"It seems as if..."
Twelve forbidden phrases Ans: "You should..." "You'll
have to..." "You can't..."
"If it were me, I'd..." "I think you..."
"Why don't you..."
"It's the policy on this unit."
"Don't worry."
"Everyone..."
"Why...?"
"Just a second..."
"I know..."
© 2025 All rights reserved
Psych HESI Questions and Answers
Latest 2026
Unconscious failure to recognize an event, thought, or
feeling that is too painful for conscious awareness Ans:
Denial
The transference of feelings to another person or object
Ans: Displacement
Attempt to be like someone or emulate the personality,
traits, or behaviors of another person Ans: Identification
Using reason to avoid emotional conflict Ans:
Intellectualization
Incorporation of values or qualities of an admired person
or group into one's own ego structure Ans: Introjection
Separation of an unacceptable feeling, idea, or impulse
from one's thought process Ans: Isolation
Indirectly expressing aggression toward others; a facade
of overt compliance masks covert resentment Ans:
Passive-aggression
Attributing one's own thoughts or impulses to another
person Ans: Projection
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Offering an acceptable, logical explanation to make
unacceptable feelings and behavior acceptable Ans:
Rationalization
Development of conscious attitudes & behaviors that are
the opposite of what is really felt Ans: Reaction
formation
Reverting to an earlier level of development when
anxious or highly stressed Ans: Regression
The INVOLUNTARY exclusion of a painful thought or
memory from awareness Ans: Repression
Substitution of an unacceptable feeling by a more socially
acceptable one Ans: Sublimation
The INTENTIONAL exclusion of feelings and ideas Ans:
Suppression
Communication or behavior done to negate a previously
unacceptable act Ans: Undoing
Seven basic communication principles that can be applied
to all patients Ans: (1) Establish trust. (2) Demonstrate a
nonjudgmental attitude. (3) Be empathetic, not
sympathetic. (4) Use active listening. (5) Accept & support
the pt's feelings. (6) Clarify & validate pt's statements. (7)
Use a matter-of-fact approach
Nurses must remember to keep statements _____________-
free, _____________-free, & _____________-free Ans: Value-
free, advice-free, & reassurance-free. NO OPINIONS!!
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Seven useful phrases Ans: "Tell me about..."
"Go on..."
"I'd like to discuss what you're thinking..."
"What are your thoughts...?"
"Are you saying that...?"
"What are you feeling?"
"It seems as if..."
Twelve forbidden phrases Ans: "You should..." "You'll
have to..." "You can't..."
"If it were me, I'd..." "I think you..."
"Why don't you..."
"It's the policy on this unit."
"Don't worry."
"Everyone..."
"Why...?"
"Just a second..."
"I know..."
© 2025 All rights reserved
