Sublimation is best described as which of the following?

• A. Channeling anxiety into socially acceptable activities.
• B. Denial of reality.
• C. Retreating to primitive behaviors.
• D. Substituting the impulse for another object.

Answer: (A)

Sublimation is a mature defense mechanism in which unacceptable urges or impulses are transformed into constructive, socially acceptable activities. Instead of denying or acting on the impulse, the energy behind it is redirected into something beneficial, like channeling aggressive drive into competitive sports or turning powerful emotions into creative work such as art or music. This is different from denial (refusing to accept reality), regression (retreating to earlier, childlike behaviors), or simply substituting the impulse for another object (which shifts the target rather than transforming the impulse into a constructive outlet).