Which of the following is a mature defence mechanism?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2021

Explanation

Anticipation is classified as a mature defense mechanism, which is considered healthy and adaptive.
It involves the realistic planning for future discomfort or stressful events to reduce anxiety and cope effectively.
This allows an individual to prepare emotionally and practically for potential difficulties, rather than avoiding them.
Mature defenses are common in healthy adults and help integrate personal needs with social demands.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Projection is an immature defense mechanism where a person attributes their own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else.
Option C: Denial is a primitive or immature defense mechanism involving the refusal to acknowledge a painful reality.
Option D: Reaction formation is a neurotic (intermediate) defense mechanism where a person behaves in a way that is diametrically opposite to their true, unacceptable feelings.

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Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Classification of psychological defense mechanisms based on maturity helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Recognizing a patient's defense mechanisms helps nurses understand their coping styles and underlying anxieties, allowing for more empathetic and effective communication.
Encouraging the use of mature defenses like anticipation can be a key nursing intervention in patient education, especially for those facing chronic illness or upcoming stressful procedures.
Nurses can help patients anticipate challenges, such as post-operative pain or side effects of medication, and plan coping strategies in advance.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the question is asking to identify a specific category ('mature') of a psychological concept ('defense mechanism').
Recall the classification of defense mechanisms, which are typically grouped into levels of maturity (e.g., mature, neurotic, immature/primitive).
Evaluate each option against this classification.
Projection and Denial are classic examples of immature defenses.
Reaction Formation is typically classified as a neurotic, or mid-level, defense.
Anticipation, which involves thoughtful planning for future stress, is a hallmark of mature, adaptive coping. This makes it the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification of psychological defense mechanisms based on maturity.
Stem keywords: mature, defence mechanism
Lead-in keywords: Which of the following

Question ID

Q3ZRG0uyCNdsY-3iPkSMab

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) p. 8930-8933

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 5e p. 67-69

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 3349-3351

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