Bethany acknowledged in a group session that she was unfaithful to her husband. Despite ending the affair, she believes her husband is cheating on her. This reflects which ego defense mechanism?

The correct answer is projection. Projection is a defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or actions to someone else. In this scenario, Bethany has recognized her own infidelity but projects her guilt or distrust onto her husband by believing that he is cheating. Rather than confronting her own actions and the implications of her behavior, she deflects the concern onto her partner, which is characteristic of projection.

This defense mechanism allows her to avoid facing her own issues by assuming that others are experiencing the same wrongdoing, thus relieving some of the discomfort associated with her actions. In therapeutic contexts, recognition of projection is crucial as it can help individuals understand how their inner conflicts and feelings may manifest in their perceptions of others.