Which defense mechanism occurs when someone redirects their feelings, positive or negative, towards someone else?

Displacement is the defense mechanism that occurs when an individual redirects their feelings, whether positive or negative, from the original source of those feelings to someone or something else. For example, if a person is angry with their boss but cannot express that anger directly, they might come home and take out their frustrations on a family member or even an inanimate object. This redirection allows the individual to manage their emotional responses without confronting the direct source of their feelings.

In contrast, repression involves burying uncomfortable thoughts or feelings deep within the subconscious, preventing them from entering conscious awareness. Projection involves attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to someone else, effectively placing one’s internal conflicts onto another individual. Rationalization is the process of creating logical explanations for behaviors or feelings that are actually rooted in emotional discomfort. Each of these mechanisms operates differently and serves specific psychological functions, but displacement is distinct in its emphasis on redirecting emotional energy towards an alternate target.