A man becomes a leader in a crusade promoting sexual morality. A year later, he is arrested for a variety of sex crimes. Freud might have interpreted the man's earlier behavior as an example of
A) repression.
B) denial.
C) reaction formation.
D) projection.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which an individual defends against their own unacceptable thoughts or impulses by developing behaviors or attitudes that are opposite to their true feelings. Therefore, the man's crusade promoting sexual morality can be seen as a reaction formation to his own sexual desires and impulses. However, this behavior does not necessarily mean that he was repressing or denying those desires, nor does it suggest that he was projecting them onto others.

A Man Becomes a Leader in a Crusade Promoting Sexual