Sigmund Freud introduced defense mechanisms, including reaction formation, viewing it as a mental process to manage conflicting desires and impulses unconsciously. Anna Freud expanded this to 10 categories.
Studies show that individuals demonstrating reaction formation often feel a threat to their self-esteem, leading them to adopt attitudes or behaviors that contradict their true feelings.
Common examples include teenagers expressing disrespect to mask their love for parents, or a boy bullying a girl due to his subconscious attraction.
Understanding reaction formation is crucial as it reveals how complex human emotions can lead to behaviors that may be counterproductive to their true feelings.
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