A man is angry with his wife, but instead of confronting her, he takes out his anger on his children. This is an example of which defense mechanism?

A man is angry with his wife, but instead of confronting her, he takes out his anger on his children. This is an example of which defense mechanism?

• A. Displacement
• B. Projection
• C. Regression
• D. Sublimation

Answer: (A)

Displacement is the tendency to redirect emotions from the original target to a safer substitute. In this scenario, the man’s anger toward his wife is being redirected onto his children, which serves as a less threatening way to express the feeling without confronting the wife directly. Projection would involve attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings to others, not shifting them to a different target. Regression would mean reverting to earlier, childish behaviors rather than redirecting the emotion. Sublimation would channel the impulse into a socially acceptable outlet, like exercise or work, rather than directing it at children.

Displacement is the tendency to redirect emotions from the original target to a safer substitute. In this scenario, the man’s anger toward his wife is being redirected onto his children, which serves as a less threatening way to express the feeling without confronting the wife directly.

Projection would involve attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings to others, not shifting them to a different target. Regression would mean reverting to earlier, childish behaviors rather than redirecting the emotion. Sublimation would channel the impulse into a socially acceptable outlet, like exercise or work, rather than directing it at children.