AP Psychology Practice Test

Which defense mechanism involves redirecting aggressive impulses toward a safer outlet?

1. Sublimation

2. Displacement

3. Projection

4. Rationalization

The correct answer is: Displacement

The concept of redirecting aggressive impulses toward a safer outlet is best captured by the mechanism known as displacement. This defense mechanism allows an individual to take feelings of anger or frustration that are directed toward one person or situation and transfer those feelings onto another target that is less threatening or more socially acceptable. For example, if someone is angry at their boss but cannot express that anger directly, they might go home and take out their frustration by yelling at their family or kicking a pillow. This allows the individual to manage their emotional responses without facing potential consequences of expressing those feelings directly toward the original source of anger. Sublimation, while related, involves converting unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable actions or behaviors, but it does not specifically refer to redirecting those impulses toward a different target. Projection involves attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to someone else, and rationalization is about justifying behavior to make it seem acceptable. Thus, displacement is the most accurate description for redirecting aggressive impulses toward a safer outlet.