Question

Shaun tends to binge-drink several times during the week, passing out in random places throughout his apartment. When confronted by his roommate, Shaun defends himself, saying that his roommate also drinks, as do most people their age. According to Freud, which defense mechanism is Shaun using?

Answer 1

Answer:

Shaun is using projection as a defense mechanism.

Explanation:

Defense mechanisms, just as the name states, are used when an individual is being confronted and this generates anxiety. In order to cope with that anxiety, the individual tends to make use of these as a protection or defense.

Projection is a defense mechanism in which an individual tries to get rid of unwanted feelings and personal characteristics and thus deposits or projects these onto others, in order to avoid hurting his/her self-image.

In this case, Shaun was confronted for his binge drinking and unable to cope with this, he projects onto his roommate and other individuals his age, saying they do it as well so he does not have to take the responsibility and doesn't have to deal with the anxiety the confrontation generated.