His overactive super-ego demands rigid acceptance of social conformity, including a set of standards that are applicable to him being a role model to others. He might ask himself the question, " that if he, as a conservative role model, cannot control his physical urges what then would a less "public" and conservative individual do if he or she were exposed to such materials? His response with regard to reaction formation might tell him that despite ample scientific evidence that arousal from erotic imagery is normal and even healthy and that the majority of people who view such material still remain within the confines of acceptable adult morality, that the average lesser individual might react to erotic material by committing adultery, raping or acting sexually aggressive toward someone, turn deviant (i.e. gay), or the worst case scenario inappropriately touch a child. All of these fears are aspects of reaction formation, as the reaction to reality (i.e. that most people still act within social norms if exposed to erotica) is distorted to protect the man from his own urges.

The politician might join or align himself with anti-pornography organizations, protest local laws and rules that allow the sales of erotic imagery and material to anyone and propose legislation that is responsive to this reactive response and that censors such material. The politician might also engage in an inordinate amount of public speaking engagements or endorsements that support his reaction formation, and even go so far as to make false claims about erotic material as a very dangerous social problem, needing immediate address. In short, reaction formation is described, very eloquently by those who observe the phenomena "he doth protest to much," when people have extreme reverse reactions to their own inner drives and feelings.