Which mechanism involves denying the existence of certain emotions?

Repression is the mechanism that involves denying the existence of certain emotions by keeping them unconscious. This psychological defense mechanism helps individuals manage anxiety and maintain psychological stability by preventing distressing feelings and memories from entering their conscious awareness. For example, a person who has experienced a traumatic event might suppress their emotional response to that event, leaving them unaware of the feelings associated with it.

In contexts of genetic counseling, understanding repression is crucial because clients may inadvertently avoid discussing or confronting challenging emotions related to their genetic risk or family history, which could impact their decision-making and coping strategies. Addressing repression may help bring these feelings to the surface, allowing for a more comprehensive exploration of the individual's concerns and facilitating a more supportive counseling environment.

The other options reflect different psychological mechanisms: projection involves attributing one's own feelings to others, intellectualization focuses on detaching emotional content by thinking about it in a purely logical and rational manner, and displacement involves redirecting feelings from one person or object to another. While each of these mechanisms serves a purpose in emotional regulation, repression specifically focuses on the denial of emotion itself, making it the best choice for the described mechanism.