Which of the following is an example of a defense mechanism?

• A. Positive reinforcement
• B. Repression
• C. Conditioning
• D. Modeling

Answer: (B)

Repression is a classic example of a defense mechanism that is rooted in psychoanalytic theory. It refers to the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and impulses from awareness. This mechanism serves to protect an individual from anxiety and distress by keeping troubling emotions or memories out of conscious thought. For instance, a person who has experienced a traumatic event may find that they cannot recall details about the event, effectively repressing those memories to avoid emotional pain.

In contrast, positive reinforcement involves increasing behaviors by presenting rewarding stimuli, which reflects a learning principle rather than a psychological defense. Conditioning is a method of behavior modification based on the use of reinforcement and punishment to shape behavior, while modeling is a process of learning through the observation of others. Neither of these options relates directly to the unconscious strategies people use to cope with emotional conflict or stress, as seen in repression.