How To Know If You Have Developed A Reaction Formation

What is an example of reaction formation?

One of the most well-known examples of reaction formation may occur in people with internal conflicts regarding their sexual orientation. A young man growing up in a community where homosexuality isn’t tolerated may feel a great deal of emotional stress if he starts experiencing feelings of attraction to other men.  He might attempt to relieve this stress through exaggerated anti-homosexual behavior, such as hostile remarks or actions toward openly gay individuals.

Another famous example of reaction formation is the “reverse discrimination” experiment. Participants were given a fake test that was supposed to measure racist attitudes. After they left, a person stopped them on the street to ask for money. 

People who received negative feedback on the “test” donated more money, on average, when the person asking for it was black. This may have been an attempt to compensate for their feelings of shame at being told they had racist attitudes.

What is reaction formation?

According to the American Psychological Association, reaction formation is a type of psychological defense mechanism described by psychoanalytic theory. In reaction formation, a person denies and suppresses their unconscious impulses, replacing them with opposing reactions. This serves as a way to avoid acknowledging unwanted thoughts that the individual finds psychologically distressing.

What is a reaction formation when you like someone?

A reaction formation in response to feelings of attraction for someone may result in displays of repulsion or aggression toward that person. This can happen if your romantic feelings are opposed by negative emotions like shame or fear. For instance, you might be worried that the other person won’t reciprocate your feelings, or you may think that people you respect would disapprove of your pursuing the relationship. 

This kind of reaction formation could be expressed in many different ways. You might be tempted to insult the other person or pick fights with them. Alternatively, you might feel uncomfortable in their presence without realizing why. You might even develop apparent physical symptoms, such as muscle weakness or tremors, when you’re around them. This kind of psychosomatic response is known as conversion disorder.

What is reaction formation in anxiety?

Symptoms of anxiety disorders may sometimes arise from reaction formation. For example, a person who has feelings of aggression that they find unacceptable might counteract them with what they view as the exact opposite behavior — in this case, anxious and fearful tendencies.

Alternatively, someone with a strong desire that they feel is wrong might develop anxiety as a way to avoid confronting their impulses. An individual who’s attracted to someone other than their spouse might feel anxious in response to anything that reminds them of sex, guilt, or infidelity.

How do you identify reaction formation?

It’s sometimes possible to identify reaction formation by the excessive, exaggerated behavior it provokes. These kinds of Freudian defense mechanisms involve actions that are not in line with an individual's true beliefs or feelings. The resulting actions may seem forced, inauthentic, or over the top. Someone with a reaction formation might seem like they’re acting out an imaginary role rather than responding naturally.

You may be able to recognize reaction formation in yourself by looking for apparently irrational or unexplained behavior. This can include things like:

• Lashing out at someone without knowing why
• Sabotaging what you thought was a perfect relationship
• Feeling sadness and depression after getting good news
• Experiencing extreme discomfort in an everyday situation
• Engaging in repetitive behavior even when it isn’t helping

Some psychological researchers may also attempt to identify reaction formation by looking for subtle discrepancies between a person’s conscious statements and unconscious actions. This can involve psychological tests, such as measuring a person’s reaction times to rapidly displayed images and words. 

In other cases, physiological measures of suppressed emotions. For instance, some researchers have found evidence that pupil dilation in response to erotic images may be correlated with sexual attraction. Metrics like these could be used to assess reaction formation related to sexuality. 

Is reaction formation good or bad?

Reaction formation may serve to prevent a person from distressing thoughts and feelings for a short time. However, in the long run, it’s often counterproductive. According to most hierarchies of defense mechanisms in psychodynamic theory, reaction formation is not considered to be an adaptive strategy, meaning it can get in the way of healthy functioning and development.

It may pose several kinds of problems. For one thing, reaction formation can lead to avoidant, hostile, or erratic behavior. This can result in various interpersonal difficulties, as well as antisocial or harmful actions. 

In addition, by masking someone’s true feelings, reaction formation could make it harder for them to address their problems. An exaggerated display of confidence could disguise an individual’s self-esteem issues, for instance.

How do you deal with reaction formation?

Addressing reaction formation may require developing a better awareness of your thoughts and emotions. Techniques that can help with this include:

• Keeping a journal
• Talking with trusted friends and loved ones
• Practicing mindfulness meditation
• Paying attention to your behavior and your instinctive emotional reactions

It may also be helpful to practice healthy coping mechanisms to replace your existing habits. Getting more exercise and better sleep can often help. So can relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, and walking in nature. Creative pursuits could offer additional constructive outlets for your feelings. 

Psychodynamic therapy may also be an effective way to address psychological difficulties like reaction formation. A trained therapist can often assist you in identifying unhealthy defense mechanisms and practicing more constructive ones.

What is the cause of reaction formation?

As described by psychodynamic theory, reaction formation results from unconscious internal conflicts between how a person wants to act and how they think they should act. An individual may want to think of themself as a
“good” person, but still have impulses to do “bad” things. This mismatch between desires and values can generate a considerable amount of stress. Reaction formation may be a way to temporarily decrease that stress by concealing these unwanted urges.

How do you stop anxiety reactions?

Decreasing anxiety-based reaction formation may be easier if you’re able to accept and acknowledge the things about yourself that you find shameful, offensive, or threatening. This can defuse the need to “defend” yourself from these feelings by going to the opposite extreme.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to engage in behavior you think is wrong. For example, you can recognize that you sometimes have aggressive feelings while still choosing not to commit violence. 

A therapist trained in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) may be able to help you with this process. Evidence suggests that ACT can provide substantial relief for anxiety disorders. 

What is the difference between projection and reaction formation?

Projection and reaction formation are both recognized types of defense mechanisms within psychodynamic theory, and both involve denying unwanted feelings. A person exhibiting reaction formation disguises their suppressed feelings by displaying opposing behavior. In contrast, projection involves attributing those feelings to other people.

For example, if you’re feeling hostility toward someone you consider a friend, a reaction formation could lead you to display exaggerated kindness toward them. Projection might cause you to perceive them as aggressive and hostile, allowing you to deny your own negative feelings.