Which type of defence mechanism is used by a person when he gets angry at his child or spouse because he had a bad day at work?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

Displacement is a psychological defense mechanism in which a person redirects a negative emotion from its original source to a less threatening recipient. In the scenario presented, a person had a bad day at work, leading to feelings of anger or frustration. However, expressing this anger directly at their boss or workplace might have negative consequences, such as job loss or further conflict. To cope with these uncomfortable emotions, the individual unconsciously shifts their anger from the difficult-to-target source (the boss/work) to a safer, more accessible target, such as their child or spouse. This redirection provides a temporary outlet for the pent-up feelings, even though it doesn't address the root cause of the anger and can be detrimental to personal relationships. Sigmund Freud initially described displacement, and it highlights how the ego attempts to protect itself from overwhelming emotions by finding alternative, less threatening ways to express them.

The incorrect option is 1: Denial

Denial is a defense mechanism where an individual refuses to acknowledge a painful reality or feeling. For example, someone in denial might refuse to believe they have a serious illness despite a clear diagnosis. In the given scenario, the person is experiencing anger, not denying its existence.

The incorrect option is 2: Projection

Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else. For instance, a person who is secretly jealous of a friend might accuse the friend of being jealous of them. In this question, the person is not attributing their bad day or anger to their child or spouse; rather, they are redirecting their anger towards them.

The incorrect option is 3: Repression

Repression is a defense mechanism that involves pushing distressing thoughts, memories, or feelings into the unconscious mind, making them unavailable to conscious awareness. This is an unconscious process of forgetting. In the given scenario, the person is actively expressing their anger, not unconsciously burying it.