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Multiple Choice

Displacement is best described as

Displacement is a defense mechanism where intense feelings toward one person or situation are redirected onto a safer, more acceptable target. The emotion remains the same, but the object of that emotion changes to something less threatening. For example, anger toward a boss might be taken out on a family member at home. This distinguishes it from acting out (expressing feelings through impulsive behavior), repression (pushing thoughts out of consciousness), or projection (attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts to others).

Displacement is a defense mechanism where intense feelings toward one person or situation are redirected onto a safer, more acceptable target. The emotion remains the same, but the object of that emotion changes to something less threatening. For example, anger toward a boss might be taken out on a family member at home. This distinguishes it from acting out (expressing feelings through impulsive behavior), repression (pushing thoughts out of consciousness), or projection (attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts to others).