Illinois CNA State Practice Exam

Which defense mechanism involves keeping unpleasant or painful thoughts or experiences from the conscious mind?

1. Denial

2. Displacement

3. Rationalization

4. Repression

The correct answer is: Repression

Repression is the correct answer because it is a defense mechanism that involves pushing unwanted thoughts, feelings, or memories into the subconscious mind in order to avoid experiencing them consciously. This allows a person to cope with difficult or traumatic experiences by keeping them out of their immediate awareness. Option A, denial, is a defense mechanism where a person refuses to believe that something painful or uncomfortable is true. This is different from repression because with denial, the person remains consciously aware of the unpleasant thought or experience, but simply chooses not to accept it. Option B, displacement, involves redirecting negative feelings or impulses onto a safer or less threatening target. Unlike repression, displacement does not involve pushing unpleasant thoughts or experiences out of conscious awareness. Option C, rationalization, is a defense mechanism where a person rationalizes or justifies their behavior in order to avoid feeling guilt or shame. This is different from repression because it does not involve actively pushing unwanted thoughts or experiences into the subconscious mind. In summary, repression is the defense mechanism that involves keeping unpleasant or painful thoughts or experiences from the conscious mind, while the other options involve coping with or avoiding these thoughts or experiences in different ways.