A patient's initial reaction to being told she has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is to insist that the nurse made a mistake with the test. The defense mechanism that BEST explains this behavior is:
A) regression.
B) repression.
C) denial.
D) rationalization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Denial is a defense mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality or facts, acting as if a painful event, thought, or feeling did not exist. It is often used to protect oneself from the pain of the truth. In this scenario, the patient is using denial to cope with the distressing news of having an STI by insisting that there must be a mistake with the test.

A Patient's Initial Reaction to Being Told She Has a Sexually