Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Practice Exam

Which defense mechanism is commonly used by clients with borderline personality disorder?

1. Denial

2. Rationalization

3. Projective identification

4. Displacement

The correct answer is: Projective identification

Clients with borderline personality disorder often utilize projective identification as a defense mechanism. This phenomenon involves projecting one's own unacceptable feelings or impulses onto another person and then manipulating that person to elicit behaviors that confirm those projections. For instance, a client might project their feelings of anger and abandonment onto a therapist, leading the therapist to feel defensive or rejected. This mechanism is particularly relevant in borderline personality disorder, where intense emotions and fears of abandonment contribute to unstable relationships. Projective identification differs from other defense mechanisms in that it not only involves projection but also actively influences others' responses based on the initial projection. This can create a cycle of interpersonal conflict and emotional turmoil, characteristic of the relational patterns often observed in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for social workers as it can guide therapeutic approaches and interventions to help clients manage their emotions and relationships more effectively.