When he heard the jury's guilty verdict, Jerry's heart sank and he wanted to cry. Instead, he kept a stoic face and showed no emotion. This is an example of what type of defense mechanism?
A) Reaction formation
B) Psychological withdrawal
C) Avoidance
D) Distancing

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jerry's behavior is an example of reaction formation, which is when someone expresses the opposite emotion of what they are truly feeling in response to a situation. In this case, Jerry is feeling sadness and disappointment, but he is expressing stoicism and no emotion.

When He Heard the Jury's Guilty Verdict, Jerry's Heart Sank