One day at work, John gets yelled at by his boss. While he would like to yell back at her, he fears losing his job so he grits his teeth, buries his anger, and says nothing. Later, he returns home and immediately yells at his children, even though they have done nothing wrong. His behavior is typical of ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

John's behavior is an example of displacement, which is a defense mechanism where an individual redirects their negative emotions or impulses onto a safer or more acceptable target. In this case, John is unable to express his anger towards his boss due to fear of losing his job, so he "displaces" his anger onto his innocent children when he gets home.

One Day at Work, John Gets Yelled at by His