An alcohol patient blames his family members for his behavior. This is known as:

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Explanation

Projection is a defense mechanism where a person unconsciously attributes their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives to another person.
The question describes a classic example of projection: the patient cannot accept their own responsibility for drinking and instead 'projects' the blame onto their family.
This defense mechanism protects the individual's ego from the anxiety and guilt associated with their own actions.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: Regression is reverting to an earlier, more childlike pattern of behavior. The patient is blaming others, not acting like a child.
Option C: Suppression is the conscious and intentional act of pushing thoughts or feelings out of one's mind. Blaming is an unconscious process of shifting fault.
Option D: Denial is the refusal to accept the reality of the situation. While related, projection is the specific act of blaming others. Denial would be the patient stating 'I don't have a problem.'.

Related Visual

An infographic illustrating common psychological defense mechanisms Projection, Denial, Regression, Rationalization with simple icons and examples for each. For Projection, an...

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Psychological Defense Mechanisms to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Recognizing defense mechanisms like projection is crucial for nurses to understand the patient's psychological state and build a therapeutic relationship.
Nurses should not argue with or confront the projection directly, as this can increase defensiveness. Instead, they should gently redirect the patient toward focusing on their own feelings and behaviors.
What if the patient said, 'I don't have a drinking problem at all'? In that case, the primary defense mechanism would be Denial, not Projection. The nurse's approach would shift to helping the patient see the negative consequences of their behavior to gently challenge the denial.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the scenario carefully: 'An alcohol patient blames his family members for his behavior.'
Identify the key action: The patient is 'blaming' others.
Review the definitions of the defense mechanisms provided in the options.
Match the action of 'blaming others' to the correct definition. Projection is defined as attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or impulses to others.
Differentiate from the other options. The patient isn't acting childish (Regression), consciously ignoring the issue (Suppression), or refusing to acknowledge the problem exists (Denial). He is acknowledging the behavior but misattributing its cause.
Therefore, select Projection as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Psychological Defense Mechanisms
Stem keywords: alcohol patient, blames, family members, behavior
Lead-in keywords: known as
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

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Reference Book

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

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 3344-3346

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 6865-6867

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