What term describes a psychological defense mechanism that involves transforming emotions?

The term that describes a psychological defense mechanism involving the transformation of emotions is reaction formation. This mechanism occurs when an individual unconsciously converts their true feelings or impulses into their opposites. For example, a person who feels anger toward someone might instead exhibit excessive kindness or affection towards them, effectively masking the underlying negative emotions with a façade of positive behavior.

Reaction formation serves to protect individuals from facing uncomfortable feelings or desires by creating an outwardly opposite emotional response. This illustrates the complexity of human emotional processes and highlights how individuals cope with feelings that may be difficult to acknowledge or express openly.