Question
Read each scenario below, and identify which defense mechanism (repression, rationalization, denial, displacement, or regression) it describes.
1.
Rationalization
2.
Regression
3.
Denial
4.
Repression
5.
Displacement
a.
A famous tennis player misses an easy shot. He throws his racquet to the ground and screams with rage; tears run down his cheeks.
b.
Mia asks her grandfather about his experiences as a political prisoner in South America. Her grandfather tells her what he can but admits there are blocks of time he doesn’t remember.
c.
Reggie was expecting to win first place in the 100-meter backstroke at the swim meet, but instead, he didn’t even place. Now Reggie loudly proclaims that swimming is stupid and that he has better things to do than practice for hours every day.
d.
A classmate’s brother just got diagnosed with cancer. You tell your classmate that you’re sorry to hear this news, and you ask how she’s coping with it. “With what?” she asks.
1.
Rationalization
2.
Regression
3.
Denial
4.
Repression
5.
Displacement
a.
A famous tennis player misses an easy shot. He throws his racquet to the ground and screams with rage; tears run down his cheeks.
b.
Mia asks her grandfather about his experiences as a political prisoner in South America. Her grandfather tells her what he can but admits there are blocks of time he doesn’t remember.
c.
Reggie was expecting to win first place in the 100-meter backstroke at the swim meet, but instead, he didn’t even place. Now Reggie loudly proclaims that swimming is stupid and that he has better things to do than practice for hours every day.
d.
A classmate’s brother just got diagnosed with cancer. You tell your classmate that you’re sorry to hear this news, and you ask how she’s coping with it. “With what?” she asks.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
a → 2 (Regression) — the player has a tantrum, reverting to childlike emotional behavior.
b → 4 (Repression) — the grandfather has gaps in memory for traumatic periods.
c → 1 (Rationalization) — Reggie belittles swimming to justify his poor performance.
d → 3 (Denial) — the classmate refuses to accept/acknowledge the diagnosis.
b → 4 (Repression) — the grandfather has gaps in memory for traumatic periods.
c → 1 (Rationalization) — Reggie belittles swimming to justify his poor performance.
d → 3 (Denial) — the classmate refuses to accept/acknowledge the diagnosis.