Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which people express the opposite of their true feelings, sometimes to an exaggerated extent. For instance, a man who feels insecure about his masculinity ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Mark Travers writes about the world of psychology. Many people come to therapy with complaints about their relationships, often ...

Defense mechanisms are primarily unconscious responses that allow people to protect themselves from anxious thoughts, strong feelings or emotions, unwanted impulses, or painful memories. They are ...

Like all defense mechanisms, reaction formation is a process that protects the person from acknowledging or accepting information that contradicts the person’s definition of who they are. This has ...