Final answer:
The medical assistant's behavior of being rude to coworkers after a fight with his spouse represents the defense mechanism known as displacement. It's a way to deal with stress by redirecting negative feelings towards a less threatening target.
Step-by-step explanation:
The defense compensation mechanism that best matches the behavior of a medical assistant being rude to coworkers after having a fight with his spouse is displacement. This psychological defense mechanism involves shifting negative feelings or actions to a safer or more acceptable target, such as being rude to colleagues instead of confronting the spouse. Other defense mechanisms include reaction formation, in which someone exhibits opposite behaviors to their true feelings, and regression, where an individual reverts to childlike behaviors during stressful situations. Projection involves attributing ones' own unacceptable feelings to others. Each mechanism serves as a way to protect the ego from discomfort and anxiety caused by internal conflicts or external stresses.
Examples of defense mechanisms are also displayed in various scenarios, such as a person learning to leave home early to avoid getting reprimanded by a boss, or Tyre, the nursing assistant who likely experiences displacement due to the mistreatment at work. A notable behavior pattern related to defense mechanisms is the Type A behavior pattern, as observed in Jeffrey, who is always driven and often experiences frustration and hostility due to his high-achieving and high-stress lifestyle.