What defense mechanism is a child using when they hit their teddy bear after being scolded?

The scenario describes a child who, after being scolded, takes out their frustrations on a teddy bear by hitting it. This behavior exemplifies the defense mechanism known as displacement. Displacement occurs when an individual substitutes a target of emotional hostility or frustration with a less threatening object or person.

In this case, the child is likely feeling angry or upset due to the reprimand from an authority figure, but rather than expressing these feelings directly towards the person who scolded them (which may not be an option due to fear of consequences), they redirect that emotional energy towards their teddy bear. This mechanism allows the child to express their frustration in a way that feels safer and more manageable, thereby alleviating some of the emotional tension without confronting the original source of their feelings.

Understanding displacement helps in recognizing how individuals sometimes cope with their feelings by shifting them onto other objects or scenarios, which is particularly common in children who may not yet have the emotional language or skills to articulate their feelings adequately.