Question

Preliminary evidence suggests that those who unconsciously identify as homosexual—but who consciously identify as straight—report more negative attitudes toward gays thanmost people do. This best illustrates the defense mechanism known as

A)projection.
B)regression.
C)displacement.
D)reaction formation.

Answer 1

This best illustrates the defense mechanism known as D) reaction formation.

Step-by-step explanation:

In psychology, defense mechanisms are strategies people use unconsciously in an attempt to protect themselves from the anxiety caused by unacceptable thoughts or feelings.

One of those defense mechanisms is called reaction formation. It refers to a person behaving the opposite way to which he truly feels or thinks. It goes beyond the denial mechanism, since the person not only denies what he feels, but also acts in an exaggerated manner to compensate those feelings. This is the defense mechanism observed in men who are prejudiced against homosexuals. According to Anna Freud, those men are trying to convince themselves of their own heterosexuality by behaving in a negative, anti-homosexual manner.