WordNet: reaction formation

(psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously develops attitudes and behavior that are the opposite of unacceptable repressed desires and impulses and serve to conceal them; "his strict morality is just a reaction formation to hide his sexual drive"

• domain: topic psychiatry, psychological medicine, psychopathology

• hypernym defence, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defense mechanism, defense reaction

reaction formation

• (suomi) reaktionmuodostus (synonyymi)