What does the defense mechanism displacement refer to?

Displacement is a psychological defense mechanism where an individual redirects their emotions from a threatening target to a more benign or safer target. This might occur when a person feels angry or frustrated but feels it is inappropriate to express those feelings towards the source of their discomfort, such as a boss or authority figure. Instead, they might express that anger towards a different person or object, which doesn't pose the same emotional risk. For example, if someone has a bad day at work and comes home and snaps at their family member, they are displacing their feelings of anger from their work environment onto their home life. This mechanism allows individuals to cope with difficult emotions without directly confronting the true source of those feelings, which can often lead to a less confrontational outcome.