Reaction formation refers to which of the following?

Reaction formation refers to which of the following?

• A. Expressing a motive or impulse in a way opposite to what was originally intended.
• B. Acting on impulses without consideration of consequences.
• C. Suppressing all emotions.
• D. Adopting a different identity to avoid anxiety.

Answer: (A)

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an unacceptable impulse is turned into its opposite and then expressed in a way that masks the true motive. This approach reduces anxiety by presenting a socially acceptable or exaggerated display rather than the original feeling. The option that matches this idea describes expressing a motive or impulse in a way opposite to what was originally intended, which is exactly what reaction formation does. For example, someone who secretly harbors anger toward a colleague might behave with over-the-top kindness and friendliness toward that person. That opposite-facing expression is the hallmark of reaction formation. The other choices don’t fit because they describe different processes: acting on impulses without consideration of consequences is impulsive behavior, not transforming the impulse into its opposite; suppressing all emotions is about withholding feelings rather than flipping them to the opposite; and adopting a different identity to avoid anxiety suggests dissociation or role-switching, not the opposite-expression pattern characteristic of reaction formation.

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an unacceptable impulse is turned into its opposite and then expressed in a way that masks the true motive. This approach reduces anxiety by presenting a socially acceptable or exaggerated display rather than the original feeling.

The option that matches this idea describes expressing a motive or impulse in a way opposite to what was originally intended, which is exactly what reaction formation does.

For example, someone who secretly harbors anger toward a colleague might behave with over-the-top kindness and friendliness toward that person. That opposite-facing expression is the hallmark of reaction formation.

The other choices don’t fit because they describe different processes: acting on impulses without consideration of consequences is impulsive behavior, not transforming the impulse into its opposite; suppressing all emotions is about withholding feelings rather than flipping them to the opposite; and adopting a different identity to avoid anxiety suggests dissociation or role-switching, not the opposite-expression pattern characteristic of reaction formation.