Final answer:
The term describes 'displacement,' an ego defense mechanism where unacceptable emotions or impulses are redirected towards safer targets. This, along with various other defense mechanisms like reaction formation, is a part of Freud's theory on the unconscious mind's role in managing internal conflicts and reducing anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subconscious transfer of unacceptable emotions, thoughts, or feelings from one's self to a more acceptable external substitute is known as displacement. This defense mechanism involves redirecting emotions or impulses from a threatening target to one that is less threatening. For example, an individual who is angry at their boss may hold back their anger in the workplace, but then later direct that anger towards a family member or pet, which is a less risky outlet.
Ego defense mechanisms are unconscious protective behaviors that aim to reduce anxiety, such as reaction formation, where a person unconsciously converts unwanted thoughts or feelings into their opposites. According to Sigmund Freud's theory, the dynamics of the unconscious mind play a crucial role in this process. These mechanisms are ways for the ego to control the uncomfortable, often socially unacceptable urges of the id, while also trying to meet the moral demands of the superego.
Understanding the Unconscious Mind
Freud's theories state that much of our mental activity, including these defense mechanisms, operate on an unconscious level. The conscious mind is only the tip of the iceberg, and the larger part of our mind -- encompassing our deepest desires, fears, and emotions -- remains hidden from our awareness. The unconscious mind holds repressed desires and memories which often surface in disguised forms, such as dreams or slips of tongue, to reduce the ego's anxiety.