What defense mechanism is described as shifting undesirable emotions into productive behaviors?

Sublimation is a defense mechanism that involves channeling negative or undesirable emotions, such as anger or anxiety, into more socially acceptable and productive activities. This process allows individuals to cope with challenging feelings by redirecting their energy toward constructive actions. For example, someone who is feeling frustrated may take up running or engage in creative pursuits to alleviate those emotions, rather than expressing them in a harmful way.

In this context, sublimation serves as a healthy way to manage emotions, transforming them into positive outcomes instead of allowing them to lead to unproductive or detrimental behaviors. This contrasts with other defense mechanisms, where the focus is more on avoiding or misinterpreting feelings rather than redirecting them constructively.