AP Psychology : Personality Changes and Growth
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Example Questions
Example Question #86 : Personality
Sarah begins to dress the same way as her powerful mother without realizing it. Which of the following Freudian defense mechanism is Sarah’s ego exhibiting?
Projection
Identification
Sublimation
Displacement
Rationalization
Identification
According to Freud, defense mechanisms are ways for the ego to protect the conscious mind from the anxiety that arises from unacceptable impulses.
Identification is when someone takes on the characteristics of someone else in order to give himself or herself more power (e.g. dressing as a powerful figure).
While intriguing, the other choices are incorrect. Rationalization is when someone decides or comes up with a seemingly logical explanation to justify an event and avoid the true explanation. Displacement is when someone takes their negative emotions and focuses them on a different, safer target. Projection is when someone attributes his or her own feelings to another person or group. Sublimation is when someone channels his or her unacceptable feelings toward a more productive, socially acceptable activity/goal.
Example Question #81 : Personality
Patrick gets fired from his job and channels all his energy into caring for his family instead. Which of the following Freudian defense mechanism is Patrick’s ego exhibiting?
Reaction formation
Rationalization
Denial
Sublimation
Displacement
Sublimation
According to Freud, defense mechanisms are ways for the ego to protect the conscious mind from the anxiety that arises from unacceptable impulses.
Sublimation is when someone channels his or her unacceptable feelings toward a different, socially acceptable activity/goal (e.g. using after being fired a person puts more effort into caring for his or her family).
Rationalization is when someone decides or comes up with a seemingly logical explanation to justify an event and avoid the true explanation. Displacement is when someone takes their negative emotions and focuses them on a different, safer target. Reaction formation is when someone expresses an exaggerated, opposite version of how they actually feel. Denial is when someone acts as if the negative feelings or events that cause negative emotions do not exist.
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