Clinical Practice SWES Practice Exam

Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's undesirable traits to others?

1. Denial.

2. Projection.

3. Rationalization.

4. Displacement.

The correct answer is: Projection.

The correct answer is projection, which is a defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own undesirable traits, feelings, or impulses to someone else. This mechanism serves as a way for individuals to protect their self-esteem and manage anxiety by externalizing their own unacceptable qualities or thoughts. For example, if someone experiences feelings of anger or jealousy but is unwilling to acknowledge these emotions within themselves, they may accuse others of being angry or jealous. In contrast, denial involves refusing to accept reality or facts, rationalization is about creating logical explanations to justify behaviors that are otherwise unacceptable, and displacement refers to redirecting emotions from their original source to a less threatening target. These mechanisms do not involve the act of ascribing one’s own traits to others, which is the distinguishing feature of projection.