Question
A patient who was just diagnosed with terminal cancer says, 'The lab must have mixed up my results with someone else's.' Which defense mechanism is the patient demonstrating?
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Answer
A.Denial
B.Projection
C.Displacement
D.Rationalization
Denial is the refusal to accept reality or facts, commonly seen as the first stage of grief per Kübler-Ross. Projection attributes one's own feelings to others. Rationalization involves creating logical excuses for unacceptable behavior. Displacement redirects emotions from the original source to a less threatening target.
