Freud's Defense Mechanisms
This defense might make someone “forget” the year they got no presents because the memory is too painful.
What is repression?
When everyone starts singing a Christmas carol at a party and you join in, you’re showing this type of social influence.
→ What is conformity?
An intense fear of mall Santas is a ___.
Specific phobia.
Forgetting where you hid a gift because you were distracted is ___.
Encoding failure.
A toddler who believes the Elf on the Shelf is alive is likely in this Piaget stage.
Preoperational stage
A person accusing others of “not being in the holiday spirit” even though THEY are the grouchy one is using this defense.
What is projection?
Assuming the rude shopper in the holiday checkout line is just a bad person (not stressed) shows this bias.
→ What is the fundamental attribution error?
A person who must decorate “perfectly” might have ___.
Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
Not being able to remember the name “dreidel,” though it’s on the tip of your tongue, is ___.
Retrieval failure
When a child understands a hidden present still exists, they’ve mastered ___.
Object permanence
Someone explaining that they “didn’t really want that gift anyway” after not receiving it is using this defense.
What is rationalization?
Ignoring someone struggling with bags because others ignore them is ___.
Bystander effect.
Someone who steals presents without guilt shows symptoms of ___.
Antisocial personality disorder
Putting holiday tasks into categories helps memory through ___.
Chunking
Teens forming their own holiday traditions are in this Erikson stage.
Identity vs. role confusion.
A teen who had a fight with their parents and then kicks a holiday lawn reindeer is displaying this defense.
What is displacement?
Treating someone differently because they don’t celebrate your holiday is ___.
Prejudice/discrimination
Extreme mood swings during the holidays might indicate ___.
Bipolar disorder.
Thinking your holiday is the “correct” way and not considering others’ traditions is ___.
Confirmation bias.
A toddler who refuses to share the menorah because “it’s mine!” shows ___.
Egocentrism
A stressed high-schooler throwing a tantrum when the hot cocoa runs out is an example of this defense.
What is regression?
Wearing matching holiday pajamas to fit in is ___.
Normative conformity.
Re-experiencing traumatic holidays from the past might indicate ___.
PTSD
You forget old Hanukkah lyrics after learning new ones. This is ___.
Retroactive interference
A baby trusting caregivers during December routines is in which Erikson stage?
Trust vs. mistrust