Question

a child is brought to the emergency room with a broken arm. because of other injuries, the nurse suspects the child may be a victim of abuse. when the nurse tries to give the child an injection, the childs mother becomes very loud and shouts, \i wont leave my son! dont you touch him! youll hurt my child!\ which is the best behavioral interpretation of the mothers statements?

regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
sublimating anger.
projecting feelings onto the nurse.
suppressing fear.

Explanation:

Analyze the mother's behavior and statements

The mother shouts, "You'll hurt my child!" when the nurse attempts to administer an injection. Given the nurse's suspicion of child abuse, the mother is likely experiencing unconscious guilt or anxiety about her own abusive behavior (hurting the child).

Evaluate the defense mechanisms

• Projection: Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or actions (such as hurting the child) onto someone else (the nurse). By accusing the nurse of wanting to hurt the child, the mother projects her own abusive behavior.
• Regression: Reverting to an earlier developmental stage, which does not fit this aggressive, accusatory behavior.
• Sublimation: Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially productive activities, which is not occurring here.
• Suppression: Consciously pushing unwanted thoughts out of awareness, whereas the mother is actively and loudly expressing these feelings outwardly.

Determine the best behavioral interpretation

The mother's statement directly attributes her own potential or actual behavior (hurting the child) to the nurse, which is a classic clinical presentation of projection.

Answer:

• Regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
• Sublimating anger.
• Projecting feelings onto the nurse. (Correct answer)
• Suppressing fear.