The defense mechanism of pretending the opposite of one's true desires is termed displacement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The defense mechanism described is called "reaction formation," not displacement. Displacement involves redirecting emotions or feelings from the original source to a safer or more convenient target. Reaction formation, on the other hand, involves behaving in the opposite way to one's unacceptable desires or impulses.

The Defense Mechanism of Pretending the Opposite of One's True