reaction formation

Từ điển WordNet v3.1 - WordNet Dictionary

noun

(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
• Topics:
psychiatry, psychopathology, psychological medicine
• Hypernyms:
defense mechanism, defense reaction, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defence