Callie just gave birth to her sixth daughter. Unconsciously, she resents the baby's birth and wishes the infant would have died during delivery. However, when she cares for her infant she showers her with exaggerated care and affection. According to Freud, Callie may be unconsciously dealing with her hostile feelings toward her new baby using the defense mechanism of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which a person suppresses their true feelings and expresses the opposite behavior. In this case, Callie may be repressing her negative feelings towards her newborn and instead expressing exaggerated care and affection.

Callie Just Gave Birth to Her Sixth Daughter