An unconscious function of the ego that protects it from anxiety-evoking material by preventing accurate recognition of this material is, according to Freud, a(n) ______.

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Freud coined the term "defense mechanism" to describe the unconscious strategies used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety or threats posed by the external world or one's own impulses, thoughts, or emotions. Examples of defense mechanisms include repression, denial, projection, displacement, regression, sublimation, rationalization, and reaction formation. These mechanisms distort or block the perception of reality, reframe negative feedback or experiences as positive or adaptive, or displace intense emotions onto more acceptable or less threatening objects or targets. The purpose of these mechanisms is to reduce the tension or conflicts between the id, ego, and superego, which represent different sources of mental energy or values.

An Unconscious Function of the Ego That Protects It from Anxiety-Evoking