Gracie is pregnant, but her boyfriend has deserted her. She really doesn't want this baby, but she doesn't believe in abortion, so she has the baby and keeps it. After the baby is born, Gracie turns into "supermom" and spends all her energies on the baby and tells everyone she meets how much she loves her child. Which defense mechanism is Gracie using?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gracie is using the defense mechanism of reaction formation, where she unconsciously reverses or transforms unacceptable impulses into their opposites. In this case, Gracie may have had initial feelings of not wanting the baby, but she transforms those feelings into extreme expressions of love and devotion for the child.

Gracie Is Pregnant, but Her Boyfriend Has Deserted Her