Reaction formation can be defined as the superficial adoption—and, often, exaggeration—of ideas and impulses that are diametrically opposed to one’s own. Examples A man unconsciously finds ...

Following the Waller-Hill hypothesis that the reflexive behavior of significant others contributes to the formation and maintenance of heterosexual dyads, this longitudinal study of 316 pair ...

Other examples of reaction formation include the teenage boy who bullies the girl or boy he’s attracted to, the immigrant who becomes more native than the natives, the rich student who attends ...