Question

Hatred and aggression toward homosexuals as a reaction to fear of one's own homosexual impulses is an example of which Freudian defense mechanism? a. reaction formation b. psychosexual stages c. repression d. projection

Short answer

a. reaction formation

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play by individuals to cope with reality and maintain self-image. It's important to identify which defense mechanism relates to the scenario.

Analyzing Reaction Formation

Reaction formation involves expressing emotions, behaviors, or thoughts opposite to what one actually feels, often because acknowledging the true feelings might cause anxiety. This aligns with showing hatred and aggression toward homosexuals while fearing one's own homosexual impulses.

Eliminating Other Options

Psychosexual stages are part of Freudian theory but are not defense mechanisms. Repression involves keeping distressing thoughts buried in the unconscious, which doesn't fit the description. Projection is attributing unwanted feelings to others, not forming opposite reactions.

Identifying the Correct Answer

An individual showing hatred and aggression to something they internally fear align with the characteristics of reaction formation, where their true impulses are masked by overt contrary behavior.

Key concepts

Reaction Formation

Reaction formation is a fascinating defense mechanism where people adopt behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that are the exact opposite of their true impulses. This process helps individuals reduce their anxiety by obscuring unwanted or threatening thoughts. For example, a person who harbors hostile feelings towards a coworker may act overly friendly towards them instead. This behavior helps to shield the person from confronting these uncomfortable feelings and maintains a socially acceptable image.

• Reaction formation can often be recognized in scenarios where someone's actions or statements are surprisingly exaggerated in the opposite direction of what might be expected.
• This mechanism also serves to protect individuals from the societal or personal repercussions of their true feelings.

Reaction formation is essential to understanding how deeply people can conceal their true emotions to maintain psychological equilibrium.

Freudian Theory

Freudian Theory, developed by Sigmund Freud, is a comprehensive framework that seeks to understand the human psyche through several elements, such as the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and innate drives. Freud believed that much of human behavior is influenced by these unconscious processes, which are frequently in conflict and manifest as defense mechanisms.

• Central to Freudian Theory is the concept of the id, ego, and superego, representing the unconscious desires, realistic mediator, and moral constraints, respectively.
• Freud's approach also includes the exploration of dreams, slips of the tongue, and spontaneous mental activities.

It's fascinating to see how Freudian Theory continues to impact modern psychology and offers insights into understanding complex behaviors and emotions.

Psychosexual Stages

The psychosexual stages are a cornerstone of Freudian Theory, describing the sequence of developmental phases passed through in childhood. Freud proposed that each stage centers around the satisfaction of different biological and psychological drives and that difficulties in these stages can lead to personality traits or mental health issues in adulthood.

• The five stages include oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages.
• During each stage, the child faces different challenges and the outcome of these challenges can influence future development.

Understanding these stages helps highlight the importance of early childhood experiences in shaping a person's future psychological well-being.

Repression

Repression is another defense mechanism within Freudian Theory, where individuals unconsciously block distressing thoughts, memories, or feelings from entering conscious awareness. This mechanism is often employed to keep uncomfortable emotions or impulses out of mind, allowing individuals to function without the anxiety these thoughts might provoke.

• Repressed feelings are not forgotten, but actively kept below the surface, often influencing behavior in indirect ways.
• These repressed thoughts can sometimes resurface in dreams or during therapy, when psychological barriers are lowered.

The concept of repression demonstrates how much of our psychological experience remains below the surface, affecting our actions and perceptions in subtle ways.

Projection

Projection is a defense mechanism where individuals attribute their own undesirable thoughts, feelings, or motives to another person. By externalizing these feelings, they distance themselves from unwanted truths about their own psyche.

• For example, someone who is unfaithful may accuse their partner of infidelity, thus shifting their guilt and anxiety to someone else.
• Projection operates unconsciously, meaning individuals are often unaware they are blaming others for their own characteristics.

Understanding projection helps in recognizing how people deflect and misattribute their internal conflicts onto those around them, maintaining an internal sense of normalcy and integrity.