Penny's college roommate borrows clothes without asking, rarely contributes to the snacks in the fridge, and teases Penny constantly in front of others in the dorm.Although deep down Penny has come to really dislike her roommate, on the surface she acts as if they are best friends.It is likely that Penny is using the defense mechanism known as

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where a person expresses exaggerated positive attitudes and behaviors towards a person or something that they actually dislike. In this scenario, Penny dislikes her roommate's behavior, but on the surface, she acts as if they are best friends. This is an example of reaction formation, as Penny is expressing positive attitudes towards her roommate despite her actual feelings. The other defense mechanisms, such as sublimation, projection, and displacement, do not fit the scenario as well as reaction formation.

Penny's College Roommate Borrows Clothes Without Asking, Rarely Contributes to the Snacks