Identity a common defense mechanism that protects you from an uncomfortable feeling.
A. Reaction formation
B. Abstinence
C. Mature behaviors
D. Acceptance
A. Reaction formation
A. Reaction formation
The correct answer is A. Reaction formation.
To identify this defense mechanism, it's important to understand what defense mechanisms are and how they work. Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that are unconsciously used to protect oneself from uncomfortable or threatening thoughts, feelings, or situations. They act as a way to cope with psychological distress.
To identify a common defense mechanism like reaction formation, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Familiarize yourself with common defense mechanisms. Reaction formation is just one of many defense mechanisms, so it's important to have a basic understanding of different types. Other common defense mechanisms include denial, displacement, projection, rationalization, repression, and sublimation.
Step 2: Understand what reaction formation is. Reaction formation involves expressing feelings or behaviors that are the opposite of what one truly feels, in order to defend against uncomfortable or unacceptable thoughts or feelings. For example, if someone has feelings of anger towards someone, but they express excessive friendliness and warmth towards that person, it can be considered a reaction formation.
Step 3: Analyze the options. Among the given options, abstinence, mature behaviors, and acceptance are not specific defense mechanisms. They represent different concepts related to behavior and coping, but they don't fit the definition of a defense mechanism. Only option A, reaction formation, aligns with the description of a defense mechanism.
Step 4: Identify the correct answer. Based on the analysis, you can confidently select option A, reaction formation, as the common defense mechanism that protects individuals from uncomfortable feelings.