Mrs. Taylor's major defense mechanisms are which?

• A. Denial and intellectualization.
• B. Repression and projection.
• C. Rationalization and reaction formation.
• D. Regression and displacement.

Answer: (A)

Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies people use to cope with anxiety, and denial and intellectualization are classic major defenses. Denial involves refusing to accept painful aspects of reality, effectively blocking the emotional impact by acting as if the situation isn’t real. Intellectualization, on the other hand, keeps feelings at a distance by focusing on facts, logic, and abstract analysis rather than emotional content. Together, they represent two fundamental ways a person can avoid distress: one by refusing acknowledgment of the problem, the other by disengaging from the emotional side and thinking through the issue in a detached, cognitive way. They are typically taught as major defenses because they are common, easily recognizable, and foundational to how people manage anxiety. Other options mention legitimate defenses like repression, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, regression, and displacement, which do occur but the combination of denial and intellectualization best fits the pattern of two prominent, widely recognized major defenses.