Question

Karen develops an intense fear of mathematics while in college. Because she doesn’t want to experience this anxiety, she volunteers to tutor grade-school children once a week.

This would be an example of:

a) sublimation.
b) repression.
c) intellectualization.
d) reaction formation.

Answer 1

Repression defense mechanism

Explanation:

Repression is a psychological defense mechanism that is used by people who repressed their feelings, thoughts, and urges. The main aim of this defense mechanism is to keep away the undesirable feelings, thought and urges from the conscious. This defense mechanism used to prevent a person from anxiety and depression.

This defense work to put undesirable thoughts and feelings in the unconscious so that a person can prevent them. It's a simple process to avoid the issue and not to think about that undesirable behavior. Karen develops an intense fear related to mathematics because she does not want to experience that same feeling so she used a defense mechanism called repression defense mechanism.