Just before leaving work for the day, Theodora received a very poor rating by her supervisor, who had been constantly criticizing her in front of her coworkers. Theodora became very upset with her supervisor, but she needs her job and is powerless to express her feelings. When she got home, her kids ran up to greet her, all talking at once. Theodora responded by yelling, "Leave me alone! Can't you see I'm tired?" According to psychoanalytic theory, this is an example of the defense mechanism known as
A)displacement.
B)projection.
C)repression.
D)rationalization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Displacement is a defense mechanism in which a person redirects their unacceptable feelings or impulses onto a safer target. In this case, Theodora may have had pent-up frustration and anger towards her supervisor, but she could not express it to her. So, she redirected her rage towards her innocent children, who were just trying to show their love and affection for their mother. Therefore, A) displacement is the correct answer.

Just Before Leaving Work for the Day, Theodora Received a Very