Say you really wish, deep down, to be messy and sloppy in every way imaginable but instead, out of guilt, take great pains to be exceptionally neat and tidy. This constitutes a defense mechanism Freud called __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which a person behaves in a way opposite to their true feelings or desires in order to avoid feelings of guilt or anxiety. In this scenario, the person truly desires to be messy and sloppy but instead behaves in an exceptionally neat and tidy way, which is the opposite of their true desires.

Say You Really Wish, Deep Down, to Be Messy and Sloppy