Sigmund is interested in his neighbour Sally but is anxious about his attraction to her because his friends may not approve.Every time he sees her,Sigmund acts rude and says mean things to Sally despite his intense attraction to her.What type of defence mechanism does this scenario illustrate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates reaction formation, which occurs when a person exhibits behaviors that are opposite to what he or she truly desires. In this case, Sigmund is attracted to Sally but is anxious about it and fears disapproval from his friends. To cope with these conflicting emotions, he behaves rudely and says mean things to Sally, which is opposite of how he truly feels.

Sigmund Is Interested in His Neighbour Sally but Is Anxious