Maria is unconsciously attracted to her best friend, lydia, but she constantly talks about how much she hates homosexuals. according to freud's theory of psychological defense mechanisms, maria is demonstrating

The answer is reaction formation. This is a sort of defense mechanism in which an individual demonstrates in the correct inverse way to his own particular irritating or socially unsuitable musings or feelings. This conduct is frequently oblivious and seems overstated, maybe with an end goal to overcompensate for the shame, blame or repugnance the individual feels in regards to his private contemplations.