Review Question - QID 212355

A 31-year-old male comedian presents to your mental health clinic for a psychotherapy appointment. He is undergoing psychodynamic psychotherapy for depressive symptoms. During the therapy session, you discuss his job as a successful comedian and identify ways that he channels his emotions about his abusive childhood into comedy routines. Though he enjoys his job overall and idolizes some of his coworkers, he complains about most of them being “totally incompetent.” When you attempt to shift the discussion back to his childhood, he avoids eye contact and he tells you he “doesn’t want to talk about it anymore.” His temperature is 98.7°F (37°C), blood pressure is 118/71 mmHg, pulse is 78/min, respirations are 12/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Which of the following is an immature defense mechanism exhibited by this patient?