Denial

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/denial

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the psychological classification?A defense mechanism, often considered primitive, used to reject unacceptable realities
2. What is the clinical relevance?A significant barrier in medical treatment adherence and recovery from addiction
3. Why do people sometimes deny something that is true?The mind builds a barrier to protect feelings when facts are too painful, like losing someone or facing illness.
4. How can denial affect someone’s health?If a person denies having a serious illness, they may wait too long to get help, which can make the sickness worse.

Defense Mechanism: An unconscious psychological strategy employed to protect the ego from anxiety-provoking thoughts or feelings.
Psychoanalytic Theory: A psychological approach that emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences.
Cognitive Dissonance: The mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.