In this new series on self-deception, I will spotlight 10 of the most important ego defenses. This sixth article is on reaction formation, which can be defined as the superficial adoption—and, often, ...

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism in which people express the opposite of their true feelings, sometimes to an exaggerated extent. For instance, a man who feels insecure about his masculinity ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about relationships, personality, and everyday psychology. Many people come to therapy with complaints about their ...