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A 40-year-old patient cries and has a tantrum when the health care provider refuses to give her a prescription for diet pills. The nurse realizes that this is the use of which defense mechanism?

A.

Projection

B.

Repression

C.

Denial

D.

Regression

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A.    Projection involves attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings or thoughts onto another person. However, in this case, the patient’s tantrum and crying are more about their own inability to handle the refusal rather than projecting feelings onto others.
B.    Repression is a defense mechanism where distressing thoughts or feelings are unconsciously blocked from entering awareness. For instance, if the patient were to push aside their feelings of disappointment about not receiving the diet pills without expressing them, that would be repression.
C.    Denial involves refusing to accept reality or facts that are distressing or threatening. However, the primary behavior in this situation is the tantrum and crying, which are more indicative of another defense mechanism rather than outright denial.
D.    Regression is a defense mechanism where an individual reverts to behaviors characteristic of an
earlier developmental stage in response to stress or conflict. The patient’s crying and tantrum can be seen as regressive behavior because it reflects a return to more childlike or immature ways of handling frustration, similar to how a child might react to not getting what they want.
 


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. While anxiety can cause symptoms like hallucinations, it's typically not associated with a sudden onset due to a physical illness and a high fever.
B. Delirium is an acute confusional state often caused by medical conditions, such as infections (like malaria), and is characterized by rapid onset, fluctuations in consciousness, and disturbances in attention, perception, and cognition. Hallucinations are a common symptom of delirium.
C. Dementia is a progressive decline in cognitive function, which usually develops gradually over time, not suddenly due to a fever.
D. While hallucinations are a symptom of psychosis, they are typically associated with underlying mental health conditions rather than a sudden physical illness.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. While hanging is a common method of suicide overall, it is more prevalent in males.
B. Similar to hanging, firearm use is more common among male suicide victims.
C. This is the most common method of suicide among female victims. It's important to note that while overdose is often less lethal than methods like hanging or firearms, it still carries a significant risk.
D. While drowning can be a method of suicide, it is less common compared to overdose, hanging, or firearm use.

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