Which defense mechanism involves returning to a previous stage of development to cope with emotions?

Regression is a defense mechanism that involves reverting to behaviors characteristic of an earlier stage of development in order to cope with emotional stressors or anxiety. This can manifest in both adults and children, where an individual might exhibit behaviors such as thumb-sucking, temper tantrums, or reliance on comforting items when faced with overwhelming feelings.

For instance, an adult facing significant stress at work might start to engage in childlike behaviors, such as throwing a tantrum or seeking parental comfort, highlighting how they are struggling to manage their current emotional state. This mechanism allows individuals to escape the pressures of adult responsibilities temporarily, providing a sense of safety or relief through familiar, simpler behaviors.

The other options represent different mechanisms that do not involve a return to earlier developmental stages. Sublimation channels unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable actions, denial blocks out reality to avoid confronting painful truths, and projection attributes one's own unwanted feelings onto others. Each serves its unique purpose in psychological defense but does not encompass the regressive aspect of returning to an earlier developmental phase.