Displacement Health Dictionary

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Displacement: From 2 Different Sources

A term used in psychological medicine to describe the mental process of attaching to one object, painful emotions associated with another object.
Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary
n. (in psychology) the substitution of one type of behaviour for another, usually the substitution of a relatively harmless activity for a harmful one; for example, kicking the cat instead of one’s boss.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Displacement Activity

The transference of feelings from one object or person to another.

This is usually performed consciously to obtain emotional relief in a manner that will not cause harm to oneself or to another person.

Some psychotherapists believe that displacement is an unconscious defence mechanism, which prevents disturbing feelings from entering consciousness.... displacement activity


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