What is Reaction Formation?
Reaction formation is a psychological defence mechanism where an individual unconsciously switches an unacceptable thought or feeling into its opposite. The mind protects itself by exaggerating opposing attitudes or behaviours instead of confronting distressing internal conflicts. For example, someone who feels deep hostility toward another person may instead behave with exaggerated friendliness and warmth toward them. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, understanding this defence helps reveal how patients may cover their true conflicts beneath a façade of opposite expressions.
Dante in the Pinewood, Painting by Carlo Wostry, 1908
From a clinical perspective, reaction formation usually operates outside of conscious awareness, making it particularly resistant to direct observation. Patients may present with rigid or moralistic attitudes that seem incompatible with their life circumstances. For instance, excessive displays of piety or virtue may conceal underlying guilt or anger. This reversal allows someone to manage anxiety by keeping the original impulse repressed.
George Vaillant, in his hierarchy of defences, classified reaction formation as a “neurotic” defence. Neurotic defences, such as repression or displacement, as well as reaction formation, usually tend to show up in adolescence and adulthood and are considered more mature than primitive defences like denial or projection, but less adaptive than mature defences such as humour or sublimation. Vaillant mentioned that while these defences can temporarily reduce internal conflict, they may also distort reality in ways that interfere with authentic expressions and interpersonal relationships.
From the Beach at Sele, Painting by Eilif Peterssen, 1889
In therapy, reaction formation can be observed when a patient consistently expresses emotions or attitudes that seem overly intense or mismatched with their situation. For example, a person who insists on unwavering love for a family member despite describing repeated mistreatment may be unconsciously disguising resentment. The purpose of therapy is not to confront the defence head-on, but to create a place where underlying feelings can gradually come up and be integrated into the patient’s conscious awareness.
Therefore, reaction formation shows the complicated nature of human defence processes and the ways individuals protect themselves from pain and emotional discomfort. Psychodynamic therapists can then help patients explore the hidden meanings behind their exaggerated attitudes or behaviours. Through interpretation and therapy, patients can move towards authenticity and reduce the reliance on such neurotic defences.