Displacement

Displacement is a psychological defense mechanism in which we take an emotion we feel toward one person or situation and direct it toward someone safer or easier to confront.

n very simple language:

“I’m angry at A, but I take my anger out on B because B is easier or safer.”

The concept is associated with Sigmund Freud and psychoanalytic theory.

imple example

Your boss scolds you at work.

You cannot safely shout at your boss, so you keep your anger inside.

When you reach home, your younger brother asks you a simple question.

You suddenly shout:

“Leave me alone!”

Your brother wasn’t the real reason for your anger.

Boss → anger → brother

That’s displacement