Question

According to freud, blocking out threatening impulses or feelings by acting out an opposite behavior is a defense mechanism called:

Answer 1

Reaction Formation: It belongs to Level 3 on the Neurotic Defense Mechanisms.
This behavior goes beyond denial and makes a person act in a completely opposite way to what they really feel/believe.
For example: Love-Hate. John might hate Sarah but unconsciously acts as he loves her. Love did not replace hate because the feeling of hate still lies within John.