Karen develops an intense fear of mathematics while in college. She then volunteers to tutor grade-school children in math once a week and talks about how much she enjoys math while being mostly unaware of her underlying fear. This would be an example of ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Karen is demonstrating reaction formation, a defense mechanism where an individual unconsciously replaces an anxiety-producing or unacceptable emotion or impulse with its opposite. In this case, Karen's actions and expressions of enjoyment towards math are the opposite of her true feelings of fear, indicating a reaction formation.

Karen Develops an Intense Fear of Mathematics While in College