The defense mechanism that involves suppressing unpleasant emotions or circumstances and refusing to acknowledge that they exist is referred to as

A) displacement.
B) reaction formation.
C) intellectualization.
D) denial.

Denial is the defense mechanism that involves suppressing unpleasant emotions or circumstances and refusing to acknowledge that they exist. Displacement involves transferring emotions from one object or situation to another. Reaction formation involves expressing the opposite of what one truly feels. Intellectualization involves analyzing a situation in a detached, rational way to avoid feeling emotions about it.