Re-channel their unacceptable impulses toward more acceptable or socially approved activities.

Re-channel their unacceptable impulses toward more acceptable or socially approved activities.

• A. Sublimation
• B. Projection
• C. Rationalization
• D. Denial

Answer: (A)

Sublimation is a defense mechanism in which unacceptable impulses are redirected into socially acceptable or constructive activities. In psychoanalytic theory, this allows troubling drives to be expressed in a way that benefits the person and society. For example, aggressive urges might be channeled into competitive sports, or intense feelings could fuel creative work like art or invention. This differs from projection, where a person attributes their own unwanted thoughts or feelings to others; from rationalization, where excuses are made to justify behavior; and from denial, where reality is refused or ignored. Because the description matches redirecting impulses into acceptable outlets, it describes sublimation.

Sublimation is a defense mechanism in which unacceptable impulses are redirected into socially acceptable or constructive activities. In psychoanalytic theory, this allows troubling drives to be expressed in a way that benefits the person and society. For example, aggressive urges might be channeled into competitive sports, or intense feelings could fuel creative work like art or invention.

This differs from projection, where a person attributes their own unwanted thoughts or feelings to others; from rationalization, where excuses are made to justify behavior; and from denial, where reality is refused or ignored. Because the description matches redirecting impulses into acceptable outlets, it describes sublimation.