Which defense mechanism involves pushing anxiety-driven thoughts into the unconscious?

Which defense mechanism involves pushing anxiety-driven thoughts into the unconscious?

• A. Repression
• B. Regression
• C. Reaction Formation
• D. Denial

Answer: (A)

Pushing anxiety-driven thoughts into the unconscious is repression. Repression keeps painful or unacceptable thoughts and memories out of conscious awareness to reduce immediate anxiety, with the material still influencing thoughts or feelings below the surface. This differs from other defense mechanisms: regression involves reverting to childlike or earlier behaviors under stress, rather than hiding thoughts; reaction formation is adopting the opposite attitude to cover up true impulses; and denial is refusing to accept an unpleasant reality rather than pushing it out of awareness.

Pushing anxiety-driven thoughts into the unconscious is repression. Repression keeps painful or unacceptable thoughts and memories out of conscious awareness to reduce immediate anxiety, with the material still influencing thoughts or feelings below the surface.

This differs from other defense mechanisms: regression involves reverting to childlike or earlier behaviors under stress, rather than hiding thoughts; reaction formation is adopting the opposite attitude to cover up true impulses; and denial is refusing to accept an unpleasant reality rather than pushing it out of awareness.