Ben often acts so daring and overly confident that few people realize he is actually riddled with unconscious insecurity and self-doubt. Ben best illustrates the use of a defense mechanism known as:

Reaction formation

Explanation: Reaction formation is a type of defense mechanism.

It shows opposite of what you feel. Thereby avoiding consequences of true feelings but true feelings may become overbearing.

Ben displays himself to be so daring and overly confident but few people realize his true feelings (unconscious insecurity and self-doubt).

answer; empathy;

answer; belief perseverance;