A teenager who feels attracted to a classmate behaves in an overly hostile and dismissive way toward them. Which defense mechanism is at play?

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In this scenario, a teenager is experiencing an attraction to a classmate but responds with overt hostility and dismissal. This pattern fits a classic defense mechanism.
Option: Denial. Denial would involve denying the reality of the attraction or the situation altogether, not actively acting out in a hostile manner toward the person. The behavior described goes beyond mere denial and shows an opposing emotional response rather than simply not acknowledging.
Option: Sublimation. Sublimation involves channeling unacceptable impulses into more acceptable or constructive activities, such as redirecting sexual energy into sports or art. The teen’s behavior is not redirecting energy into a productive outlet; it is still aimed at the person and conveys hostility, not a redirected outlet.
Option: Reaction Formation. This is the correct choice. Reaction formation occurs when an unwanted or uncomfortable impulse (here, attraction) is converted into its opposite emotion or behavior (hostility and dismissiveness). The individual masks genuine feelings by displaying the exact opposite attitude, which protects against anxiety or guilt.
Option: Regression. Regression would entail returning to earlier, less mature behaviors in response to stress (e.g., sulking, whining, tantrums). The described response is not a retreat to a previous developmental stage, but a deliberate defensive stance against someone the teen is attracted to.
Overall, the hostile/dismissive behavior serves to mask underlying attraction, aligning with reaction formation as the defense mechanism at play.

2025/26/1 PSYB19-103 1 - Introduction to Psychology 2025. 12. 16. Quiz

A teenager who feels attracted to a classmate behaves in an overly hostile and dismissive way toward them. Which defense mechanism is at play?

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