reaction formation

Noun

Meaning

(psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously develops attitudes and behavior that are the opposite of unacceptable repressed desires and impulses and serve to conceal them

Source: WordNet

Hypernyms

defense defence defense mechanism defence mechanism defence reaction defense reaction

Examples

Let me formulate the artistic disposition as follows: it is reacting with one's ideal to the flaw in oneself and in the world, and somehow making that reaction formation solid enough in the medium so that it indeed becomes an improved bit of real world for others. Paul Goodman

his strict morality is just a reaction formation to hide his sexual drive Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms

reaction duration reaction energy reaction engine reaction GIF reaction image reaction mass