A man with anxieties about his aggressive impulses presents himself as the opposite extreme, a crusader against violence. His behavior apparently illustrates which Freudian defense mechanism?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The man's behavior of presenting himself as the opposite extreme of his anxieties about aggressive impulses indicates the defense mechanism of reaction formation. He is expressing a behavior that is the opposite of what he is feeling, creating an overcompensation to protect himself from his own anxieties.

A Man with Anxieties About His Aggressive Impulses Presents Himself