A nurse is assessing the coping strategies of a client who has recently retired.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates that the client is using compensation as a defense mechanism?
A.
“Since I retired, I have entered many gardening competitions.”
B.
“I’m so glad I’ve retired because the work was making me sick and depressed.”
C.
“I had to retire because my boss didn’t like me.”
D.
“There were lay-offs at my company, so I journaled about what I accomplished during my career.” .
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is:
A. “Since I retired, I have entered many gardening competitions.”
Explanation:
Compensation is a defense mechanism where an individual offsets a weakness or a perceived deficiency in one area by excelling or overemphasizing achievements in another. In this context, the client is using gardening competitions to compensate for the potential loss of purpose or identity they may have experienced after retiring from their job.
In retirement, many individuals face a loss of structure, identity, and productivity that their careers provided. To cope with this, some may find new hobbies or activities to excel in as a way to restore their sense of purpose. In this case, the client’s participation in gardening competitions demonstrates compensation because they are redirecting their energy from their career into a new, productive outlet, making up for any feelings of inadequacy or loss of status after retirement.
Let’s look at the other options:
- Option B: This statement reflects a sense of relief and rationalization about retirement, possibly indicating that the client is using the defense mechanism of rationalization, where they justify their decision with reasons that may not reflect the full picture of their emotions.
- Option C: This statement shows externalization, possibly demonstrating projection or blame toward the boss rather than addressing the internal feelings about retirement.
- Option D: Journaling about career accomplishments could be seen as a way to reflect and find closure, but it doesn’t clearly indicate compensation. It might be an example of intellectualization or sublimation as the client processes emotions through constructive outlets.
Overall, Option A best aligns with the concept of compensation.