AP Psychology Practice Test

The defense mechanism described in the question is indeed projection. This mechanism involves individuals attributing their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else. By doing so, they can avoid facing their own undesirable traits or emotions, thereby protecting their self-esteem. For example, someone who feels angry may accuse others of being hostile, reflecting their own hidden feelings rather than experiencing them directly. This allows individuals to manage anxiety or stress related to their own internal conflicts.

Rationalization, the other terms refer to a different mechanism where a person provides themselves with excuses or explanations for their behaviors, often to justify them. Regression involves reverting to earlier stages of development when faced with stress, and displacement is when feelings or impulses are directed towards a safer target rather than the actual object of those feelings. Each of these mechanisms serves to help individuals cope with different psychological challenges, but in the case of disguising threatening impulses by attributing them to others, projection is the correct term.