A 6-year-old admitted to the hospital resumes thumb-sucking after a 2-year absence. This behavior demonstrates which defense mechanism?

A 6-year-old admitted to the hospital resumes thumb-sucking after a 2-year absence. This behavior demonstrates which defense mechanism?

• A. Displacement
• B. Regression
• C. Projection
• D. Rationalization

Answer: (B)

Regression is when a person reverts to earlier developmental behaviors to cope with stress. In a 6-year-old, resuming thumb-sucking after a 2-year gap during hospitalization shows slipping back to a toddler-level self-soothing mechanism to manage anxiety. This differs from displacement (shifting feelings to a safer target), projection (attributing one’s own impulses to others), or rationalization (providing logical excuses for behaviors).

Regression is when a person reverts to earlier developmental behaviors to cope with stress. In a 6-year-old, resuming thumb-sucking after a 2-year gap during hospitalization shows slipping back to a toddler-level self-soothing mechanism to manage anxiety. This differs from displacement (shifting feelings to a safer target), projection (attributing one’s own impulses to others), or rationalization (providing logical excuses for behaviors).