A person with strong sexual urges, who channels his energy into relig…

A person with strong sexual urges, who channels his energy into religious fervour, presents a classical example of:-

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Reaction formation

Option (1) Rationalisation — Incorrect. In rationalisation a person tries to make unreasonable feelings or behaviour seem reasonable, as a student who does poorly in an examination buys new pens and says, ‘I will do much better with these pens’. The person gives a good-sounding reason; the feeling is not turned into its opposite.

Option (2) Projection — Incorrect. In projection, people attribute their own traits to others, as when a very aggressive person sees others as aggressive.

Option (3) Reaction formation — Correct. In this defence mechanism a person defends against anxiety by adopting behaviour opposite to her or his true feelings. Strong sexual urges turned into religious fervour is the classical example.

Option (4) Denial — Incorrect. In denial a person totally refuses to accept reality, as someone suffering from HIV/AIDS may deny the illness altogether. The person in the question does not deny the urges; he channels their energy into the opposite kind of behaviour.

Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 15-05-2026 (Slot 1).

NCERT (2025-26): “Ego Defence Mechanisms … In projection, people attribute their own traits to others. Thus, a person who has strong aggressive tendencies may see other people as acting in an excessively aggressive way towards her/him. In denial, a person totally refuses to accept reality. Thus, someone suffering from HIV/AIDS may altogether deny her/ his illness. In reaction formation, a person defends against anxiety by adopting behaviours opposite to her/his true feelings. A person with strong sexual urges, who channels her/his energy into religious fervour, presents a classical example of reaction formation. In rationalisation, a person tries to make unreasonable feelings or behaviour seem reasonable and acceptable. For example, when a student buys a set of new pens after doing poorly in an examination, s/he may try to rationalise her/his behaviour by asserting, ‘I will do much better with these pens…”