Which defense mechanism is characterized by transferring feelings from the original source of distress to a less threatening target?

• A. Denial
• B. Projection
• C. Rationalization
• D. Displacement

Answer: (D)

Displacement is the process of diverting strong emotions from their real source to a safer, less threatening target. This lets someone express the feeling without facing the original situation that caused it. For example, if a person feels anger about a difficult boss but can’t show it at work, they might come home and snap at a family member or an object instead.

Other defense mechanisms involve different patterns of avoidance or misattribution. Denial is refusing to accept reality; projection is putting one’s own unacceptable feelings onto someone else; rationalization is offering logical-sounding excuses to justify uncomfortable thoughts or actions. The key idea with displacement is the emotional energy is real, but the target of the emotion is changed to something less threatening.