Michel recently quit smoking, and now he constantly talks about how disgusting and dangerous smoking is. What defence mechanism might Michel be using?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Michel's constant talk about the dangers of smoking, after quitting, could indicate that he is using reaction formation as a defence mechanism. Reaction formation involves expressing the opposite behaviour or feeling of what one actually desires, as a means of dealing with unwanted or socially unacceptable emotions or impulses. In this case, Michel may still have cravings for smoking, but is trying to suppress them by talking negatively about it.

Michel Recently Quit Smoking, and Now He Constantly Talks About