Question

After Hunter has a terrible fight with his boyfriend, he returns home and yells at his dog for sleeping on the sofa—even though the dog is usually allowed to sleep on the furniture. Hunter's process of venting his anger on a safer target is an example of __________.

Answer 1

Hunter's process of venting his anger on a safer target is an example of displaced aggression.

Step-by-step explanation:

If Hunter had yelled at his boyfriend, he would have displayed direct aggression. However, what he did is an example of displaced aggression. Displaced aggression happens when an aggressive behavior is directed to someone who is not the original source of frustration or provocation. Usually, people display displaced aggression when they cannot respond to the original source for some reason - maybe because it is impossible, may because it would have grave consequences. That is precisely what Hunter did. He vented his anger on a safer target, since he knows the dog will not retaliate.

Answer 2

Hunter's process of venting his anger on a safer target is an example of displacement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Displacement is a defense mechanism that consists of changing an object that produces an unacceptable emotional reaction, for another, without there being a link between both elements, that is, the displacement refers to the redirection of an impulse (usually an aggression) towards a person or an object. We "displace" certain emotions associated with an object, to another object that we attack or avoid, because it does not provide as much fear as the first.