Mental Health Quiz: Defense Mechanisms definitions
Questions and Answers
T/F: Defense mechanisms (DM) operate all the time, but theyre not always apparent **
Answ** True
_________ is devoting oneself to serving others as a way to manage conflict and stress **
Answ** altruism; different from reaction formation bc it is personally gratifying not self
sacrificing
________ covering up for deficiencies in one area by excelling in another area ** Answ**
compensation
___________ is an unconscious refusal to perceive or face unpleasant reality, an unacceptable
idea or behavior ** Answ** denial
_________ is the discharge of pent-up feelings onto something or someone else in the
environment less threatening than the original source ** Answ** displacement
_______ is the unconscious separation of painful feeling from an unacceptable idea, situation or
object ** Answ** dissociation
________ is the gratification of frustrated desires, achievements, and relationships by
substituting them with daydreams and imagery ** Answ** fantasy
________ is a conscious or unconscious attempt to model oneself after a respected person **
Answ** identification
Questions and Answers
T/F: Defense mechanisms (DM) operate all the time, but theyre not always apparent **
Answ** True
_________ is devoting oneself to serving others as a way to manage conflict and stress **
Answ** altruism; different from reaction formation bc it is personally gratifying not self
sacrificing
________ covering up for deficiencies in one area by excelling in another area ** Answ**
compensation
___________ is an unconscious refusal to perceive or face unpleasant reality, an unacceptable
idea or behavior ** Answ** denial
_________ is the discharge of pent-up feelings onto something or someone else in the
environment less threatening than the original source ** Answ** displacement
_______ is the unconscious separation of painful feeling from an unacceptable idea, situation or
object ** Answ** dissociation
________ is the gratification of frustrated desires, achievements, and relationships by
substituting them with daydreams and imagery ** Answ** fantasy
________ is a conscious or unconscious attempt to model oneself after a respected person **
Answ** identification
