Which defense mechanism involves distressing thoughts and feelings being blocked from entering conscious awareness?

• A. Repression
• B. Sublimation
• C. Denial
• D. Regression

Answer: (A)

Repression is an unconscious process that blocks distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings from entering conscious awareness. This protects you from anxiety by keeping painful material out of sight, even though it can still influence behavior or emotions in subtle ways. It’s different from denial, which involves refusing to accept reality in the first place, or sublimation, which redirects impulses into socially acceptable outlets. Regression refers to returning to earlier, childlike behaviors in response to stress. So the description best fits repression.