Repeated USMLE Questions Step 1- 210

While you were conducting the morning round in internal medicine department, one of the patients told you that the nurses are insensitive and irresponsible. You asked him for the reason. He said: "they are not good as doctors". All doctors I'd seen here are sensitive and responsible.

Which of these is the most likely defense mechanism involved in this case?

A-Projection

B-Reaction formation

C-Regression

D-Repression

E-Splitting

Answer:







This defense mechanism is characterized by dividing 2 groups of people into two opposite characters. Doctors are sensitive and responsible while nurses are insensitive and irresponsible. In other words, splitting them . Other choices have different definitions.

The correct answer is E