Ascension Composite Cadet Competition Practice Test

Which term describes the act of purposely blocking awareness of a problem?

Denial Repression Suppression Avoidance

Correct Answer:

Suppression

Explanation:

Suppression is the conscious act of blocking awareness of a problem. It’s a deliberate effort to push distressing thoughts out of mind or postpone thinking about the issue so you can keep functioning in the moment. This differs from repression, which is unconscious and automatic—thoughts are kept out of awareness without you realizing it. It also contrasts with denial, where you refuse to accept that the problem exists at all, and with avoidance, which involves dodging situations or triggers rather than actively keeping thoughts away. For example, you might consciously set aside worries about a mistake to focus on the task at hand. Suppression can help in the short term, but if used too long, it may prevent addressing the problem effectively.

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