Question

A client has several episodes of uncontrolled rage. While watching violent behaviors on a television newscast, the client says, "Those people need to be put away before they kill someone." Which defense mechanism is the client is using?

Answer 1

Answer:

displacement defense mechanism.

Explanation:

Defense mechanisms are behaviours developed by the body as a response in handling difficult situations or events. A person can be in denial of the true state of things which is an example of defense mechanism.

Displacement defense mechanism.

Displacement is a type of defense mechanism where a person ignores the source of his/her unpleasant feeling or emotion, to get mad at a less threatening object or activity which is not the cause of the unpleasant feeling.

In the illustration, the client exhibits uncontrolled rage because of the violent behaviours he saw on the television. Here his uncontrolled rage can not be seen by the people in the television who are the source of such feelings, rather it can only be seen by people around him. This type of defense mechanism exhibited by the client is a displacement defense mechanism.