A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl in his class. A nurse would recognize this behavior as indicative of which defense mechanism?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual behaves in a way opposite to their actual feelings. In this case, the boy might actually have a crush on the girl but expresses it through teasing and making jokes, which is an opposite behavior to his true feelings.

A Fourth-Grade Boy Teases and Makes Jokes About a Cute