DEFENSE MECHANISM SCENARIOS

Decide which defense mechanism is at play in the scenarios below. Briefly state why you chose
that answer.

1. You receive a poor grade on a test, and you believe that the test was unfair. When you
speak to the teacher, he says, “Sorry. You’ll just have to study harder next time.” When
you arrive home, you yell at your roommate because the house is messy.

Answer: Displacement
In displacement, a person has no idea what they are talking about. They just outburst on
that target who is not even responsible for the cause.

2. You are watching your favorite TV show, when a sudden news flash interrupts the
program. The newscaster reports that a horrible accident has occurred in your hometown,
in which dozens of people have been killed. You switch the channel to watch something
else and try not to think about it.

Answer: Repression.
In this state, a person is trying to divert his own attention so that he won’t get bothered.

3. Your friend enjoys smoking. When you express concern about your friend’s health and
show her some articles about the risks of smoking, she says, “That’s just government
propaganda.”

Answer: Denial
In this state, knowing the consequences of smoking, she is just avoiding the risk of it
because she is enjoying every puff of it.

4. You are attending a charity-sponsored lunch, with free boxed lunches. The food looks
really good, so you take two boxes, telling yourself, “I just won’t have one the next
time.”

Answer: Rationalization
In this state, she thinks that taking boxes would matter but she is actually denying the fact
that she is stealing

5. Your friend offers to give you the answers to an Abnormal Psychology test, which he
took early. You agree, thinking to yourself, “If my teacher were better, I wouldn’t be
forced to cheat.”

Answer: Rationalization.

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 In this state, I know that cheating is wrong but even then I chose to give her answers, I
am the one who is wrong here but instead of being guilty I am blaming my teacher.

6. You don’t like your boss. Each morning, when she comes in to work, you act especially
nice to her and even buy her flowers on her birthday.

Answer: Reaction formation

In this state, knowing the fact that I hate my boss but I am acting totally opposite around
her so that she won’t feel bad

7. You tend to procrastinate, but you’re embarrassed about this quality. Any time you see
someone else procrastinating, you say, “He must really be lazy. What a bum!”

Answer: Projection
In this state I know that I am embarrassed but even then I attribute my own qualities to
others

8. Since your father passed away in a car accident you have started to enjoy playing video
games in which your mission is to eliminate enemy alien forces.

Answer: Sublimation.
In this state I have overcome my sadness and trying to make these my strength.

Adapted from http://catherinerbarberphd.weebly.com