Which item is NOT listed as a defense mechanism in the material?

Which item is NOT listed as a defense mechanism in the material?

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

Answer: (A)

Defenses are unconscious strategies people use to cope with anxiety or internal conflict. Repression, regression, and reaction formation are classic examples of these mental strategies: repression hides distressing thoughts from awareness, regression returns someone to earlier, safer behaviors, and reaction formation expresses the opposite of an unconscious impulse to keep anxiety at bay. Neuroplasticity, however, is the brain’s ability to physically rewire and reorganize neural connections in response to experience, learning, or injury. It’s a biological process, not a coping tactic, so it isn’t categorized as a defense mechanism. That makes neuroplasticity the correct choice for the item asking which is not listed as a defense mechanism.

Defenses are unconscious strategies people use to cope with anxiety or internal conflict. Repression, regression, and reaction formation are classic examples of these mental strategies: repression hides distressing thoughts from awareness, regression returns someone to earlier, safer behaviors, and reaction formation expresses the opposite of an unconscious impulse to keep anxiety at bay. Neuroplasticity, however, is the brain’s ability to physically rewire and reorganize neural connections in response to experience, learning, or injury. It’s a biological process, not a coping tactic, so it isn’t categorized as a defense mechanism. That makes neuroplasticity the correct choice for the item asking which is not listed as a defense mechanism.