Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of reaction formation?

Which of the following is an example of reaction formation?

Which of the following behaviors is an example of reaction formation?

Which of the following statements best describes reaction formation as a defense mechanism?

A high school football player named Joe, who unconsciously feels attracted to other males, experiences anxiety due to a conscious belief that being gay is immoral and would lead to social ostracism. To cope with this conflict, he exhibits behaviors contrary to his unconscious urges, such as acting overly 'macho,' making homophobic jokes, and bullying a gay peer. This serves as an example of reaction formation, where his unacceptable impulses are suppressed by adopting opposing behaviors.

Example of Reaction Formation: Internalized Homophobia

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which a person reduces anxiety by adopting and expressing beliefs and behaviors that are the opposite of their own true, and often unacceptable, beliefs or feelings.

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Types of defense mechanisms include: 
Denial
- Isolation
- Repression
- Reaction Formation
- Regression
- Projection
- Displacement

- Avoidance
- Undoing
- Introjection
- Suppression
- Compensation
- Identification

- Splitting
- Conversion
- Dissociation

- Humor
- Sublimation

Types of Defense Mechanisms

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Rationalization is a type of defense mechanism that is characterized by an individual attempting to justify, or rationalize, their behavior with excuses.

Rationalization

Which of the following is an example of the defense mechanism 'projection'?

Which of the following best illustrates the defense mechanism 'sublimation'?

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the defense mechanism 'reaction formation'?

Which of the following is an example of the defense mechanism 'regression'?

Denial is a defense mechanism characterized by the refusal to acknowledge real events or facts because they are too unpleasant or threatening to accept.

Denial (Defense Mechanism)

Displacement is a defense mechanism characterized by an individual transferring inappropriate urges or behaviors from their original source to a more acceptable or less threatening target.

Displacement

Reaction Formation

Regression is a defense mechanism where an individual reverts to coping strategies associated with an earlier, less mature stage of development, especially when faced with stress or anxiety.

Regression

Repression is a defense mechanism where anxiety-causing or overwhelming memories and thoughts are unconsciously blocked from entering conscious awareness. This process removes distressing information from the psyche, although the repressed memory may continue to influence an individual by causing symptoms in other areas.

Repression

Sublimation is a defense mechanism in which unacceptable urges or desires are redirected into socially acceptable and often productive activities or channels.

Sublimation

Projection is a defense mechanism in which an individual denies their own unconscious feelings by attributing them to someone else.

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