A 12-year-old boy has been wetting his bed since he experienced a traumatic event three months ago. Which of the following defense mechanisms Is the patient most likely displaying?

Compensation involves counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strengths in other areas. The boy's bedwetting does not indicate that he is attempting to compensate for any perceived shortcomings; rather, it reflects a return to earlier behaviors due to emotional distress.

Denial is the refusal to accept reality or facts, effectively blocking external events from awareness. The boy's behavior does not demonstrate denial, as he is likely aware of his bedwetting but is unable to cope with the emotional aftermath of the trauma.

Displacement involves shifting emotional responses from the original object or person to a safer target. In this case, the boy's bedwetting does not represent a redirected emotional response, but rather a reversion to a childlike state in response to stress.

Regression indeed describes the behavior exhibited by the boy, but it is the correct answer in this context. It indicates that he has reverted to an earlier developmental behavior—bedwetting—following the trauma, which aligns with the characteristics of this defense mechanism.