Question

An overweight woman who has a secret stash of candy in her office at work constantly criticizes everyone else about their calorie and fat intake and is always passing around the newest fad diet book to all her coworkers. Which of Freud’s defense mechanisms best describes this situation?

A. Rationalization
B. Projection
C. Reaction formation
D. Displacement

Answer 1

C. Reaction formation

Step-by-step explanation:

Reaction formation is the defensive mechanism that usually consists of the person adopting an opposite stance on the matter. In this example, the woman who hides candy in her office is adopting the idea of placing importance on one's calorie and fat intake along with the newest fad diet book. She has taken on this stance to try to cover up or hide her own struggle with dieting and eating healthy.