A woman who is attracted to her coworker criticizes him and is rude whenever they interact What defense mechanism is this? Repression Denial Projection Reaction Formation

## Step 1<br />The problem presents a scenario where a woman is attracted to her coworker but behaves in a critical and rude manner whenever they interact. This behavior is a defense mechanism, which is a psychological strategy used to cope with reality and maintain self-image.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The defense mechanism in this case is "Reaction Formation". This mechanism involves expressing the opposite of one's true feelings. In this case, the woman is attracted to her coworker, but she expresses the opposite of this feeling by being critical and rude.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The other options, "Repression", "Denial", and "Projection", do not fit the scenario. "Repression" involves pushing distressing thoughts into the unconscious mind. "Denial" involves refusing to accept reality or facts. "Projection" involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.