A man who is secretly insecure about his intelligence constantly brags about how smart he is What defense mechanism is he using? Denial Reaction Formation Projection Rationalization

## Step 1<br />The problem presents a scenario where a man is secretly insecure about his intelligence but constantly brags about how smart he is. This behavior is indicative of a psychological defense mechanism.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies that the mind uses to protect itself from uncomfortable thoughts or feelings. In this case, the man is using a defense mechanism to cope with his insecurity about his intelligence.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The defense mechanism in this scenario is "Reaction Formation". This is a defense mechanism where a person behaves in a way that is opposite to their true feelings. In this case, the man is acting in a way that is opposite to his true feelings of insecurity, which is by bragging about his intelligence.