What defense mechanism is demonstrated by a person who states they have no memory of an abusive act?

What defense mechanism is demonstrated by a person who states they have no memory of an abusive act?

• A. Splitting
• B. Repression
• C. Introjection
• D. Rationalization

Answer: (A)

When a person says they have no memory of an abusive act, the defense at work is repression—the unconscious keeping painful memories out of awareness to protect the self from distress. Repression isn’t about denying or explaining the act; it’s about pushing the memory away so it isn’t consciously accessible, even though it may influence behavior or emotions in other ways. This differs from splitting, which is seeing people or situations as all good or all bad; introjection, which involves internalizing others’ attitudes or voices; and rationalization, which is justifying the act or feelings with reasons that sound logical. Repression specifically targets the memory itself, making it blank or inaccessible to conscious recall.

When a person says they have no memory of an abusive act, the defense at work is repression—the unconscious keeping painful memories out of awareness to protect the self from distress. Repression isn’t about denying or explaining the act; it’s about pushing the memory away so it isn’t consciously accessible, even though it may influence behavior or emotions in other ways.

This differs from splitting, which is seeing people or situations as all good or all bad; introjection, which involves internalizing others’ attitudes or voices; and rationalization, which is justifying the act or feelings with reasons that sound logical. Repression specifically targets the memory itself, making it blank or inaccessible to conscious recall.