Final answer:
Displacement is a defense mechanism that occurs when a person transfers his inner distress to a physical manifestation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Displacement is a defense mechanism that occurs when a person transfers his inner distress to a physical manifestation. It involves redirecting emotions or impulses from an original source onto a substitute target. For example, someone who is angry at their boss may come home and kick or punch a punching bag instead of confronting their boss directly.
In this case, the physical act of kicking or punching serves as a substitute for expressing anger towards the boss. Sigmund Freud theorized that we use these defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from overwhelming feelings of anxiety that arise due to the conflict between our id, ego, and superego.