Bridget is very anxious about being independent from her parents. Although she would like to be with them, instead she pushes them away and behaves with exaggerated independence. What defense mechanism is she using?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reaction formation refers to behaving in ways opposite to your inclinations; when children have thoughts or desires that make them anxious, they may react by behaving in a contradictory way. For example, they might like to cling to their parents, but instead they push them away and behave with exaggerated independence and assertiveness.

Bridget Is Very Anxious About Being Independent from Her Parents