Gordon is romantically interested in Michaela, a woman who lives in his dorm. However, he feels anxious about his attraction to her because he knows that his friends would not approve. Every time Gordon sees Michaela, he says mean things despite his attraction to her. His behavior is an example of which defense mechanism?

The correct answer is reaction formation

Reactive formation is a defense mechanism that occurs when a person feels a desire to do or say something but says the opposite. Reactive formation appears as a defense against a feared social punishment. If I fear that I will be criticized for anything, I very visibly act in a way that shows that I am personally out of the way of the feared position.

A common pattern in reactive formation is where a person uses "excessive behavior", for example, using exaggerated sympathy when the person is really feeling hostile.

nigger, that word was originated for white folks   to keep black people under

and when black people use it, they know that's just how they greet each other

and when white folks use it, they know there's a double meaning under

all people shall have equal rights upon birth and ever after. (when referring to the rights of man the declaration of the rights of man only applied to landowning men who were 25 years or older and paid taxes equal to 3 days worth of work and were not servants.

explanation: hope this