Texas Medical Assistant Certification Practice Test

What defense mechanism is displayed when a patient refuses to acknowledge their recent diabetes diagnosis, stating the tests must be wrong?

1. Sublimation

2. Denial

3. Repression

4. Suppression

The correct answer is: Denial

The patient’s refusal to accept their diabetes diagnosis by asserting that the tests must be incorrect is a classic example of denial. Denial is a defense mechanism where an individual unconsciously refuses to accept reality or facts, thereby preventing them from facing the truth of a situation. In this case, the patient is unable to acknowledge the serious nature of the diagnosis, which can stem from fear, anxiety, or a desire to avoid the emotional distress associated with a chronic health condition like diabetes. In contrast, other defense mechanisms such as sublimation, repression, and suppression involve different cognitive processes. Sublimation involves channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities, whereas repression is an unconscious mechanism to bury distressing thoughts or memories. Suppression is a conscious decision to avoid thinking about something uncomfortable. Since the patient is outright refusing to recognize the diagnosis, denial best captures the psychological state being exhibited in this scenario.