A defense mechanism pushing threatening or conflicting events or situations out of conscious memory is termed as?

Appeared in: UPPSC-2021

Explanation

Repression is an unconscious defense mechanism employed by the ego to keep disturbing or threatening thoughts from becoming conscious.
The core of repression is the involuntary and unconscious 'forgetting' of painful memories, feelings, or impulses.
Unlike suppression (where one consciously tries to forget), repression happens automatically and without the person's awareness.
The question describes pushing threatening events out of conscious memory, which is the exact definition of repression.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Rationalization involves creating a logical-sounding excuse to justify unacceptable behavior or feelings. It does not involve pushing memories out of consciousness.
Option B: Displacement involves redirecting emotions (like anger) from the original source to a safer, substitute target. It is about shifting feelings, not forgetting memories.
Option C: Regression is a retreat to an earlier, more childlike stage of development when faced with stress. It involves behavior, not the exclusion of memories from consciousness.

Related Visual

An iceberg model showing the conscious mind tip of the iceberg and the unconscious mind submerged part, with an arrow depicting Repression pushing a traumatic memory from...

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Defense Mechanisms in Psychiatry helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses frequently encounter patients using defense mechanisms. Recognizing them helps in understanding patient behavior and facilitating therapeutic communication.
It is crucial for nurses not to challenge a patient's defense mechanisms directly, as they serve a protective function. Instead, the focus should be on building trust and addressing the underlying anxiety.
What if? If a patient consciously and intentionally avoids thinking about a traumatic event, this is called 'suppression,' not repression. While repression is unconscious, suppression is a conscious choice.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'pushing threatening or conflicting events or situations out of conscious memory.'
Next, analyze the term 'out of conscious memory.' This implies a process of forgetting or blocking.
Review the definitions of the four defense mechanisms provided in the options.
Rationalization is 'excuse-making.' Displacement is 'redirecting feelings.' Regression is 'reverting to childlike behavior.'
Repression is defined as the unconscious blocking of memories. This directly matches the description in the question stem.
Therefore, select Repression as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Defense Mechanisms in Psychiatry
Stem keywords: defense mechanism, pushing, threatening events, conscious memory
Lead-in keywords: termed as
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QNkFUiNuhKtQ8a9HQeBC_G

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 2995-2997, 2994-2996

E6 Psychology Morgan King 9e Part 2 p. 187-189

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