Which defense mechanism refers to replacing someone or something with another person or thing?

• A. Reaction Formation
• B. Substitution
• C. Regression
• D. Undoing

Answer: (B)

Substitution involves replacing an unavailable target with a more accessible one to reduce anxiety. When the original person or object can’t be obtained, the impulse is redirected toward a substitute that feels safer and easier to obtain, effectively swapping the target. This explains why replacing someone or something with another person or thing fits the concept: the focus is on a workable stand-in that satisfies the underlying impulse without confronting the original obstacle. For example, someone who longs for a relationship they can’t have might channel similar feelings toward a different person, a pet, or even a hobby as a substitute.

As a contrast, reaction formation is about expressing the opposite of what one truly feels, not about replacing the target. Regression involves returning to earlier developmental behaviors, not substitution. Undoing refers to performing a compensatory action to negate or “undo” a thought or act, which is different from substituting the target itself.