Parents who are overprotective of a child they did not want may be exhibiting ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Overprotectiveness towards a child can be a result of a defense mechanism called reaction formation, in which a person behaves in a way that is opposite to their true feelings or desires. In this case, the parents may have initially not wanted the child but are now overcompensating by being overly protective. Denial, projection, and sublimation do not fit the context of the scenario.

Parents Who Are Overprotective of a Child They Did Not