Although he stayed calm during the conversation, Mark was angry as he left Professor McArthur's office because he felt he had been treated unfairly. A short while later, Mark snapped at a fellow student who asked if she could borrow his notes. Which ego defense mechanism best accounts for Mark's behavior toward the other student?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Displacement is the ego defense mechanism in which one redirects their frustrations, anger, or other emotions onto a less threatening target. In this case, Mark may be redirecting his anger and frustration from his interaction with Professor McArthur onto the other student who simply asked to borrow his notes.

Although He Stayed Calm During the Conversation, Mark Was Angry