Final answer:
Defense mechanisms such as reaction formation and regression help individuals cope with anxiety by exhibiting opposite behaviors or reverting to earlier developmental stages.
Step-by-step explanation:
Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies employed by individuals to protect themselves from anxiety and to maintain a positive self-image. Two commonly observed defense mechanisms are reaction formation and regression. Reaction formation involves expressing the opposite behavior or emotion from what one truly feels.
An example of this could be someone who is questioning their sexuality making derogatory comments about LGBTQ+ individuals. Regression, on the other hand, is when a person reverts to behavior characteristic of an earlier stage of development. For instance, a child might revert to thumb-sucking when faced with the stress of a new sibling entering the family.