Which defense mechanism involves refusing to accept reality?

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Multiple Choice

Which defense mechanism involves refusing to accept reality?

Explanation:
Refusing to accept reality is a defense mechanism that shields a person from distress by keeping upsetting facts out of conscious awareness. Denial helps reduce anxiety in the moment by blocking acceptance of painful information, so someone might insist a serious diagnosis isn’t real or that a troubling event will just go away. This differs from rationalization, which adds plausible-sounding excuses to justify the situation; reaction formation, which shows the opposite of what is really felt; and displacement, which shifts emotions onto a safer target. So, denial is the mechanism that directly involves not accepting reality.

Refusing to accept reality is a defense mechanism that shields a person from distress by keeping upsetting facts out of conscious awareness. Denial helps reduce anxiety in the moment by blocking acceptance of painful information, so someone might insist a serious diagnosis isn’t real or that a troubling event will just go away. This differs from rationalization, which adds plausible-sounding excuses to justify the situation; reaction formation, which shows the opposite of what is really felt; and displacement, which shifts emotions onto a safer target. So, denial is the mechanism that directly involves not accepting reality.

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