Which defense mechanism involves a person refusing to acknowledge their own feelings?

The correct answer is denial, which is a defense mechanism characterized by an individual rejecting the reality of certain feelings, thoughts, or experiences. When someone employs denial, they are unable or unwilling to accept that their feelings or circumstances exist. This often serves as a way to protect themselves from the emotional distress that acknowledging these feelings might cause.

For example, an individual facing a significant personal loss may refuse to accept the reality of the situation, insisting that everything is fine even when it is not. This refusal can be a protective function that allows them to temporarily avoid dealing with the painful emotions associated with the loss.

In contrast to denial, other defense mechanisms, such as projection, involve attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to another person; displacement refers to shifting emotional responses from the original source to a more appropriate target; and repression involves unconsciously pushing distressing thoughts and feelings out of awareness but not necessarily refusing to acknowledge them outright. Denial is distinct as it represents an outright refusal to accept reality as a way to avoid emotional pain.