Question

If she is using the defense mechanisms of reaction formation, a mother who actually hates her son would MOST likely be both unaware of her hatred and:

a. Actively express love and affection towards her son
b. Repress her hatred and deny its existence
c. Display neutral feelings and behavior towards her son
d. Show overt signs of anger and resentment towards her son

Answer 1

If a mother is using the defense mechanism of reaction formation, she would most likely be both unaware of her hatred and actively express love and affection towards her son. So, the correct answer is option a.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a mother is using the defense mechanism of reaction formation, she would most likely be both unaware of her hatred and actively express love and affection towards her son. Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where someone expresses feelings, thoughts, and behaviors opposite to their true inclinations.

In this case, the mother's true feelings of hatred are repressed and denied, causing her to outwardly display love and affection towards her son. So, the correct answer is option a.