Low ego strength is best described by which characteristic?

• A. You avoid problems and are overwhelmed by reality
• B. You cope effectively and adapt easily
• C. You seek control and take decisive action
• D. You are highly optimistic about outcomes

Answer: (A)

Low ego strength means the ability to cope with stress and reality is fragile. When someone avoids problems and becomes overwhelmed by reality, they struggle to integrate internal feelings with external demands, leading to avoidance as a primary defense and a failure to stay grounded in what’s actually happening. This contrasts with someone who copes effectively and adapts, which reflects stronger ego functioning. While seeking control and taking decisive action can be a normal or adaptive tendency in some contexts, it doesn’t define low ego strength. Likewise, high optimism about outcomes might arise from positive affect or denial but isn’t by itself a marker of weak ego function. So, avoidance paired with being overwhelmed by reality best fits low ego strength.