In defense mechanism terms, which pattern describes attributing one's own anger about job loss to a spouse’s anger?

• A. Denial
• B. Projection
• C. Repression
• D. Sublimation

Answer: (B)

Attributing your own anger about losing a job to your spouse is projection. In projection, you take your own uncomfortable feelings and place them onto someone else, as if they are the ones actually feeling or expressing those emotions. Here, the anger is your own reaction to job loss, but you describe it as coming from or being directed at your spouse, rather than owning it yourself. This defense helps you avoid recognizing and owning the uncomfortable emotion.

Denial would involve refusing to acknowledge the job loss or the anger itself. Repression would push the anger out of conscious awareness. Sublimation would transform the anger into a socially acceptable outlet or activity, not blame toward another person.