Social Work Examination Services (SWES) Human Behavior Practice Test

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Prepare for the Social Work Examination Services Test on Human Behavior. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations to enhance your comprehension and readiness for the test.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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A 40-year-old woman with repressed memory of childhood sexual abuse is an example of which psychological defense mechanism?

Denial
Rationalization
Repression
Projection

The correct answer is: Repression

Repression is a psychological defense mechanism wherein an individual unconsciously pushes distressing thoughts, memories, or feelings out of conscious awareness. In the case of the 40-year-old woman with repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse, she is exhibiting this mechanism as she is unable to access or recall traumatic memories from her past due to the overwhelming emotional pain they may cause. Repression functions to protect the individual from experiencing anxiety or distress associated with these memories. This can manifest in a variety of ways, such as difficulty trusting others or experiencing unexplained emotional responses. The effectiveness of repression may lead the individual to function normally in daily life while carrying unresolved issues that might surface later through various symptoms or other forms of psychological distress. Understanding repression can help social workers and mental health professionals address underlying issues in clients who have experienced trauma without a conscious awareness of their past, aiding in creating a therapeutic environment that fosters healing and the gradual processing of these repressed memories.