The nurse has recently set limits for a patient with borderline personality disorder. The patient tells the nurse, 'You used to care about me. I thought you were wonderful. Now I can see I was mistaken. You're hateful.' Which phenomenon is represented by this response?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Splitting. Splitting is a defense mechanism commonly seen in individuals with borderline personality disorder where they perceive others as either all good or all bad. In this scenario, the patient's sudden shift from viewing the nurse as wonderful to hateful demonstrates splitting. The patient is unable to integrate both positive and negative aspects of the nurse's behavior, leading to extreme and polarized perceptions.
Choice B: Denial involves refusing to accept reality to protect oneself from uncomfortable truths, which is not demonstrated in this response.
Choice C: Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual behaves in a way that is opposite to their true feelings, which is not evident in the patient's response.
Choice D: Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings onto someone else, which is not the case in this scenario.