Quotes About Reaction formations

The thing about reaction formations is that they are reactions, and not responses to life. Genuine responsive emotions have an open, connecting, "moving" quality to them. They feel fresh and spontaneous including "dark" genuine emotions like anger and grief.

There are some authors who contend that meanings and values are nothing but defense mechanisms, reaction formations and sublimations. But as for myself, I would not be willing to live merely for the sake of my defense mechanisms, nor would I be ready to die merely for the sake of my reaction formations.