A student scores poorly on a rigorous academic examination and subsequently…
2026
A student scores poorly on a rigorous academic examination and subsequently states that the low grade is entirely due to the teacher’s unfair grading practices. Which defense mechanism is primarily illustrated?
Answer: C. Rationalization of failure. — ConceptA defense mechanism protects the ego from anxiety or a threat to self-esteem by unconsciously altering how an experience is understood. Rationalization…
- A.
Repression of pain.
- B.
Denial of reality.
- C.
Rationalization of failure.
- D.
Projection of blame.
Attempted by 15 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
A defense mechanism protects the ego from anxiety or a threat to self-esteem by unconsciously altering how an experience is understood.
Rationalization supplies a plausible, self-protective explanation for an outcome, whereas projection attributes one’s own unacceptable feelings, motives, or impulses to another person.
Application
The student replaces the uncomfortable explanation—poor performance on a difficult examination—with an acceptable external explanation: unfair grading by the teacher.
Contrast
Repression keeps distressing thoughts or memories outside conscious awareness; the student is not shown forgetting or suppressing the examination result.
Denial rejects or minimizes an unpleasant reality; here the student acknowledges the low grade but explains it away.
Rationalization constructs a plausible excuse that protects self-esteem after an unfavorable outcome.
Projection assigns one’s own unacceptable feelings, motives, or impulses to someone else; the stem does not describe the teacher as having the student’s own hidden impulse.
Result
Therefore, the defense mechanism illustrated is rationalization of failure.