Defense mechanism by which the ego unconsciously switches unacceptable impulses into their opposites. Thus, people may express feelings that are the opposite of their anxiety-arousing unconscious feelings.

• A. Displacement
• B. Sublimation
• C. Reaction formation
• D. Rationalization

Answer: (C)

Defensive mechanism where the ego protects itself by turning unacceptable impulses into their opposite, often without awareness. In reaction formation, the true feeling is concealed and replaced with the exact opposite expression, which helps ease anxiety.

For example, someone who harbors hostile feelings toward another might act in an excessively kind and friendly way toward that person. The outward behavior contradicts the inner impulse, which the person denies or hides.

This differs from displacement, which shuffles feelings to a safer target; sublimation, which channels impulses into socially acceptable activities without flipping the emotion to the opposite; and rationalization, which creates excuses to justify the behavior rather than expressing the opposite emotion.