A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl in his class. This behavior should be identified by a nurse as indicative of which defense mechanism?

Question

A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl in his class. This behavior should be identified by a nurse as indicative of which defense mechanism??  
A. Displacement  
B. Projection  
C. Reaction formation    
D. Sublimation

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: (C)Reaction formation  . 
Rationale: The interpretation supported by the scenario is Reaction formation  .A. DisplacementThis sounds reasonable when the idea in “Displacement” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.B. ProjectionThis would apply in a different scenario where the idea in “Projection” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.C. Reaction formation  This works since The nurse should identify that the boy is using reaction formation as a defense mechanism. Reaction formation is the attempt to prevent undesirable thoughts from being expressed by expressing opposite thoughts or behaviors. Displacement refers to transferring feelings from one target to another. Rationalization refers to making excuses to justify behavior. Projection refers to the attribution of unacceptable feelings or behaviors to another person. Sublimation refers to channeling unacceptable drives or impulses into more constructive, acceptable activities. Need: Psychosocial Integrity Ego defenses can reduce anxiety in the short term, but they become clinically relevant when they distort reality enough to interfere with insight, relationships, or treatment adherence. From a nursing standpoint, this selection guides assessment and interventions toward what is most clinically meaningful in the moment—risk reduction, safety, accurate appraisal, and support for adaptive coping.D. SublimationThis might be chosen when the idea in “Sublimation” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.ConclusionThe scenario is best handled by identifying what the nurse must interpret or prioritize first and then choosing the statement that fits that requirement with the least distortion. The distractors have surface appeal, but they do not align as tightly with the clinical cue embedded in the stem.

A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl in his class. This behavior should be identified by a nurse as indicative of which defense mechanism?

A
Displacement

B
Projection

C
Reaction formation

D
Sublimation

The interpretation supported by the scenario is Reaction formation .

Related Questions

A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl in his class. This behavior should be identified by a nurse as indicative of which defense mechanism?

A Displacement B Projection C Reaction formation D Sublimation

The interpretation supported by the scenario is Reaction formation .

Related Questions

A
Displacement

B
Projection

C
Reaction formation

D
Sublimation