[step1an]

A 40 year old former heroin abuser has just finished a drug abuse rehabilitation programme. After leaving the programme he starts to volunteer in order to help other addicts recover. This is a demonstration of which defense mechanism?

• A. Reaction formation
• B. Projection
• C. Repression'
• D. Identification
• E. Suppression
• F. Displacement

 

[donofitaly]

D. Identification??

 

[khanar]

Yeah, I don't think this is reaction formation

 

[doctorF]

A 40 year old former heroin abuser has just finished a drug abuse rehabilitation programme. After leaving the programme he starts to volunteer in order to help other addicts recover. This is a demonstration of which defense mechanism?

• A. Reaction formation
• B. Projection
• C. Repression'
• D. Identification
• E. Suppression
• F. Displacement

D- identification ie. modifying behaviour after someone who is more powerful!!!

 

[step1an]

The correct answer is A. Reaction formation.

Reaction formation is the replacement of an unacceptable thought/desire with an emphasis on its opposite. In this case pt likely still desires heroin and fights this impulse by helping others with the same problem

D- identification ie. modifying behaviour after someone who is more powerful!!!

Hmm well in this question there is no mention of any other person which could have influenced this patients.

 

[donofitaly]

Thanks for the answer.

 

[step1an]

You are welcome...

 

[ashishkabir]

Confusing trio

Reaction formation, Projection and Displacement are all very similar and often confusing...

 

[doctorF]

The correct answer is A. Reaction formation.

Reaction formation is the replacement of an unacceptable thought/desire with an emphasis on its opposite. In this case pt likely still desires heroin and fights this impulse by helping others with the same problem

Hmm well in this question there is no mention of any other person which could have influenced this patients.

emm this question has really got me into confusion... wen he has finished the rehabilitation programe y is he desiring heroin again??? infact this question seems to me an xample of sublimation not mentiond

 

[step1an]

emm this question has really got me into confusion... wen he has finished the rehabilitation programe y is he desiring heroin again??? infact this question seems to me an xample of sublimation not mentiond

hmm... well i doubt if there is any rehabilitation programme which has 100% success rate. So, completing a rehab programme doesn't guarantee that he will not think of using heroin again.

In sublimation the impulse gratification is achieved by channeling the unaceptable impulse into a socialy acceptible one.

But in this case the pt is acting against his impulse of using heroin by stopping others from using it.

A classic example "A teenage boy intrigued by dirty pictures organises an anti-pornography campaign".

I hope this clears it......

BTW... this question is from UWorld