Reaction formation reduces anxiety by taking up the opposite feeling, impulse, or behavior. An example of reaction formation would be treating someone you strongly dislike in an excessively friendly manner in order to hide your true feelings. Why do people behave this way? According to Freud, they are using reaction formation as a defense mechanism to hide their true feelings by behaving in the exact opposite manner.
Next: Other Defense Mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms
By Kendra Van Wagner, About.com
Prev
- Defense Mechanisms and Ego Anxiety
- What is a Defense Mechanism?
- Denial, Repression, and Suppression
- Displacement and Sublimation
- Projection and Intellectualization
- Rationalization
- Regression
- Reaction Formation
- Other Defense Mechanisms
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