When Phia's boss tells her that she is lazy and needs to work harder,Phia smiles and nods politely.That night,she screams at her husband,Eric,for burning the steaks.Phia's behavior most likely is a result of the defense mechanism of
A) displacement.
B) denial.
C) sublimation.
D) repression.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Displacement is a defense mechanism in which a person transfers their negative emotions, such as anger or frustration, from one situation onto a less threatening or more acceptable target. In this case, Phia may have felt angry and frustrated with her boss for criticizing her work ethic, but because confronting her boss directly would have been too threatening or unacceptable, she instead displaces her anger onto her husband over something relatively minor like burning dinner.

When Phia's Boss Tells Her That She Is Lazy and Needs