reaction-formation
Disguised impulse opposite
Reaction-formation is a psychological defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously converts an unacceptable impulse into its opposite.
Someone with repressed hostility might become excessively friendly; someone troubled by forbidden desires might crusade against them: His vocal opposition to gambling looks like reaction-formation—he was once a compulsive gambler himself.
Curative mental treatment
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- maladaptiveHarmful to one's wellbeing
- coping mechanismMethod for managing distress
psychological defense · symptom · analysis · interpretation · case study · patient · therapist · treatment
Unconscious self-protective mental process
- repressionUnconscious blocking of thoughts
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- FreudFounder of psychoanalysis
- egoOne's self-image
anxiety · impulse · forbidden desire · projection · sublimation · denial · id · superego
Excessive counterbalancing reaction
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- maskFace-worn concealment
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
concealment · performative · hostility · affection · zealotry · puritanism · overcorrection · reversal
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- maladaptiveHarmful to one's wellbeing
coping mechanism · psychological defense · symptom · analysis · interpretation · case study · patient · therapist · treatment · awareness
defense mechanism
Unconscious self-protective mental process
- repressionUnconscious blocking of thoughts
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- FreudFounder of psychoanalysis
ego · anxiety · impulse · forbidden desire · projection · sublimation · denial · id · superego · neurosis
overcompensation
Excessive counterbalancing reaction
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- maskFace-worn concealment
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
pretense · concealment · performative · hostility · affection · zealotry · puritanism · overcorrection · reversal · compensatory
reaction-formationcongruence
State of agreement
emotional authenticity · true feelings · self-acceptance · emotional honesty · self-awareness
reaction-formationsublimation
Solid to gas directly
repression · acting out · denial · projection · rationalization
reaction, formation, react, form, reacting, reacted, reactive, reactor, reactant