Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Questions Related

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When a husband accuses his wife of infidelity, which situation would indicate to the nurse the husband's use of the ego defense mechanism of projection?

  • A. The husband cries and stamps his feet, demanding that his wife be true to her marriage vows.
  • B. The husband ignores the wife's continued absence from the home.
  • C. The husband has already admitted to having an affair with a coworker.
  • D. The husband takes out his marital frustrations through employee abuse.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Projection is a defense mechanism where one attributes their unacceptable feelings or impulses to another person. In this scenario, the husband, by admitting to having an affair with a coworker, is projecting his infidelity onto his wife, indicating the use of the projection defense mechanism. Choice A is incorrect as it describes a different behavior, not projection. Choice B does not demonstrate projection but rather avoidance or denial. Choice D shows displacement of aggression, not projection.