Final answer:
Displacement is a defense mechanism where a person transfers their emotional reaction to a more acceptable substitute target when they cannot direct it towards the actual cause. It occurs alongside other defense mechanisms like reaction formation, rationalization, and projection, which all serve to protect an individual's ego from anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The defense mechanism in which a person transfers an emotional reaction to a substitute target, when it cannot be directed at the actual person who caused it, is known as displacement. Displacement involves transferring inappropriate urges or behaviors onto a more acceptable or less threatening target. This mechanism serves as a way for individuals to handle emotional conflicts or stressors that may be too difficult to deal with directly.
Another related defense mechanism is reaction formation, where an individual exhibits behavior opposite to their true feelings or desires in order to keep these unacceptable urges or behaviors hidden. It is an attempt to suppress the anxiety associated with forbidden thoughts or feelings by overcompensating. Other defense mechanisms that work together to protect the ego from anxiety include rationalization, projection, regression, and sublimation.