Synonyms
Definition
Reaction formation (RF) is a defense mechanism that substitutes an internally or externally threatening or unwanted thought or feeling with its diametrical opposite (Perry 1990).
Introduction
Reaction formation is a defense mechanism. Defense mechanisms (DMs) are automatic and unconscious psychological processes that direct individuals’ reactions to conflict and stress, whether arising from external or internal sources (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition, 2013). DMs are considered to be a normal and ubiquitous part of human development. Individual defenses also can be hierarchically arranged by their general level of adaptiveness. Conceptually and empirically, there are eight levels of defensive functioning. Within the hierarchy, defenses are grouped into different levels based on common functions. These levels include the psychotic (0), action (1), major image-distorting (2),...
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References
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Minges, M.V., Starrs, C.J., Perry, J.C. (2017). Reaction Formation (Defense Mechanism). In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1420-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1420-1
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