USMLE · Question #464
A 14-year-old girl is brought to the physician after her mother learned that she began having sexual intercourse with various partners 1 month ago. She does not use condoms or other contraception…
The correct answer is A. Acting out. See the full explanation below for the reasoning.
Question
A 14-year-old girl is brought to the physician after her mother learned that she began having sexual intercourse with various partners 1 month ago. She does not use condoms or other contraception. The mother is concerned about her behavior. The patient's parents separated 3 months ago. She had been an honor student and excelled in sports and leadership positions at school before the separation. Since the separation, however, she has become sullen, defiant, and rebellious. She has begun smoking cigarettes, disobeying her curfew, and being truant from school. This patient is most likely using which of the following defense mechanisms?
Options
- AActing out
- BDisplacement
- CProjection
- DReaction formation
- ESublimation
How the community answered
(49 responses)- A73% (36)
- B2% (1)
- C2% (1)
- D14% (7)
- E8% (4)
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