Question

A young man is very envious of his best friend. Although it is difficult to admit, he believes his friend is more successful, better looking, and is always the life of the party. To the contrary, this young man tells his family that his best friend is envious of him, despite there being no evidence this is so.

This defense mechanism is known as:
a) Rationalization
b) Denial
c) Displacement
d) Projection

Answer 1

The defense mechanism described in the question is projection, where a person attributes their own unconscious feelings or desires to someone else.

Step-by-step explanation:

The defense mechanism described in the question is projection.

Projection is a defense mechanism where a person attributes their own unconscious feelings or desires to someone else. In this case, the young man feels envious of his best friend, but instead of acknowledging his own envy, he projects it onto his friend by believing that his friend is envious of him.

Projection can help the person avoid facing their own uncomfortable emotions and maintain a positive self-image.