Which statement best describes the defense mechanism known as reaction formation?

• A. Repression
• B. Sublimation
• C. Switching unacceptable impulses into their opposites
• D. Projection

Answer: (C)

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which unacceptable impulses are transformed into their opposite and expressed in an exaggerated, outwardly opposite way to mask the true feeling. For example, someone who harbors anger toward a coworker may act excessively kind or deferential, or a person with sexual urges they find troubling might insist on strict moral conduct and judgment of others.

This best matches the idea of switching impulses into their opposites to reduce anxiety about the unacceptable thought or impulse. Repression involves pushing urges out of awareness, not flipping their emotional tone. Sublimation redirects the impulse into a socially acceptable outlet rather than turning it into its opposite. Projection attributes one’s own unacceptable thoughts to others, rather than converting them to the opposite emotion.