That's when a person secretly is or does or believes something that they feel is wrong or unacceptable, so they go to extremes in the opposite direction so no one will know. (OK, simplified, but easy to research.)
An example is when someone who secretly drinks too much is the loudest voice against drinking, so no one will suspect they themselves are guilty.
An example is when someone who secretly drinks too much is the loudest voice against drinking, so no one will suspect they themselves are guilty.
Reaction formation may also be characterized as being ‘inflexible.’ The inflexibility is caused by the fear that the truth may be revealed. In order to make sure this never happens, the individual will act a certain way all the time, often obsessing over it.
The behavior may come off to bystanders as a performance as the individual attempts to not only convince themselves, but those around them (which rarely proves to be successful). This exaggeration often comes from overcompensating for the guilt that the individual feels.
Reaction Formation: Understanding This Defense Mechanism | Thrive Talk