The nurse identifies this behavior as which defense mechanism?

A 40-year-old client is admitted to the hospital for tests to diagnose cancer. Since his admission, he has become dependent and demanding to the nursing staff.

The nurse identifies this behavior as which defense mechanism?
A . Denial
B . Displacement
C . Regression
D . Projection

View Answer

Answer: C

Explanation:

(A) Denial is the disowning of consciously intolerable thoughts.

(B) Displacement is the referring of a feeling or emotion from one person, object, or idea to another.

(C) Regression is returning to an earlier stage of development.

(D) Projection is attributing one’s own thoughts, feelings, or impulses to another person.