Which term describes transferring feelings toward one person to a different target?

Which term describes transferring feelings toward one person to a different target?

• A. Displacement
• B. Projection
• C. Reaction formation
• D. Regression

Answer: (A)

Displacement is a defense mechanism in which emotions toward one person are redirected to a different target. This lets a person express feelings they can’t safely vent toward the original source. For example, someone who feels anger toward a supervisor but cannot express it at work might snap at a family member instead. That’s different from projection, which is about ascribing one’s own unacceptable thoughts to someone else; reaction formation, which is acting in the opposite way of what one truly feels; and regression, which is reverting to earlier, childish behaviors under stress.

Displacement is a defense mechanism in which emotions toward one person are redirected to a different target. This lets a person express feelings they can’t safely vent toward the original source. For example, someone who feels anger toward a supervisor but cannot express it at work might snap at a family member instead. That’s different from projection, which is about ascribing one’s own unacceptable thoughts to someone else; reaction formation, which is acting in the opposite way of what one truly feels; and regression, which is reverting to earlier, childish behaviors under stress.