John is a rather aggressive person with lots of energy. He sometimes got into trouble for aggressive behaviour as a teenager, but he has recently vented his aggressive feelings by playing rugby on a local team. Instead of getting into trouble for his aggressive behaviour, John now finds that he is considered to be a well-respected and valuable rugby player by his teammates. According to Freud, joining the rugby team would best be considered an example of the defence mechanism of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sublimation is a defense mechanism proposed by Freud, where socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are unconsciously transformed into socially acceptable actions or behavior, possibly resulting in a long-term conversion of the initial impulse. In John's case, his aggressive impulses are redirected in a positive manner through playing rugby, which is a socially acceptable outlet for aggression.

John Is a Rather Aggressive Person with Lots of Energy