Simon is very interested in his neighbor Sally but has anxiety about his attraction to her because his friends would not approve. Every time he sees her, he acts very rude and says mean things to her, despite his intense attraction to her. This is an example of what type of defense mechanism?

This is an example of the REACTION FORMATION defence mechanism.

Explanation: Reaction formation is a psychological defense mechanism in which an individual emotions and impulses which are anxiety-producing or perceived to be unacceptable are mastered by behaving in the opposite way often in a very exaggerated performance.

reaction formation type of mechanism

Explanation:

Reaction formation is a kind of psychological defense mechanism in which a person perceives their true feelings or desires to be socially or, in some cases, legally unacceptable, and so they attempt to convince themselves or others that the opposite is true and often in a very larger performance

A cause for reaction mechanism is when a person seeks to cover up something unacceptable by adopting an opposite stance. For example the gay person who has heterosexually promiscuous may be concealing their homosexual reality.

c. taught scientists many new things about the earth, but not other planets.

explanation: