Displacement is a defense mechanism in which a person redirects an emotional reaction from the rightful recipient onto another person or object.
Displacement in Therapy and Mental Health
Defense mechanisms crop up for everyone from time to time; displacement only interferes with mental health when it becomes habitual or interferes with daily life, such as a job or relationship.
Displacement may relieve distress or preserve self-esteem in the moment but damage well-being over time. The reaction can exacerbate personal problems or relationship conflict while failing to address the underlying problem.
It can be difficult to recognize displacement, so a therapist can be a helpful guide. The therapist may observe patterns in which a patient seems to overreact or redirect frustration onto a seemingly unrelated person. The pair can then explore the root cause so the patient can move forward.
Displacement takes place because it’s sometimes safer or easier to focus on a less threatening person. In the case of the employee who is reprimanded by her boss, responding in anger could cost her her job. Responding differently would require skills of confrontation and conflict resolution. Displacing her anger onto her spouse or child provides a less powerful, lower stakes, and more controllable target.
Explore More About Displacement
For a comprehensive understanding of displacement, read our complete guide: