While a corrupted person talks against corruption which defense mechanism he using?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

Explanation

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual acts in a manner that is completely opposite to their true, unacceptable feelings or impulses.
In the given scenario, the person is corrupt (the unacceptable impulse/reality).
To manage the anxiety associated with this, they adopt an opposing public persona, actively speaking out against corruption.
This reversal of the true impulse into its opposite is the hallmark of reaction formation.

Option A: Rationalization involves creating excuses to justify one's behavior. The person in the scenario is not making excuses for their corruption but is actively condemning it.
Option B: Projection involves attributing one's own negative traits to others. The person is not accusing others of being corrupt; they are speaking against the concept of corruption itself.
Option D: Identification is about adopting the traits of someone else, often out of admiration or to resolve developmental conflicts. It does not fit the scenario of acting opposite to one's own behavior.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Psychological Defense Mechanisms helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding defense mechanisms helps nurses recognize the underlying anxiety or conflict a patient may be experiencing, even when their outward behavior seems contradictory.
It allows for more empathetic and therapeutic communication, as the nurse can look beyond the surface behavior to address the patient's deeper emotional needs.
Recognizing a patient's use of defense mechanisms can be crucial in mental health nursing for accurate assessment and care planning.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core conflict in the scenario: The person's action (being corrupt) is in direct opposition to their stated belief (speaking against corruption).
Next, review the definitions of the given defense mechanisms.
Analyze 'Rationalization': Does the person make an excuse? No.
Analyze 'Projection': Does the person blame others for their own trait? No.
Analyze 'Reaction Formation': Does the person act in the exact opposite way to their true feelings/actions? Yes.
Analyze 'Identification': Does the person adopt someone else's traits? No.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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

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

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.