When Ursula argues with her boyfriend whom she cares for very much, she tells him, "I hate you. Get out of my life!" Ursula's behavior MOST closely resembles which defense mechanism?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ursula's behavior of expressing hatred towards her boyfriend whom she cares for very much is an example of reaction formation. This defense mechanism involves expressing the opposite of one's true feelings in order to avoid the anxiety that arises from acknowledging those feelings.

When Ursula Argues with Her Boyfriend Whom She Cares for Very