Question

Sophia performs poorly in her science test. When her parents question her poor performance, she blames her relatives and neighbors for low grades because they visited her home the day before her science test. In this case, Sophia is reducing the responsibility of her poor performance through ____

Answer 1

Sophia is reducing the responsibility of her poor performance through the displacement defense mechanism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Defense mechanisms occur when an individual is presented with a situation which generates anxiety. In order to reduce the anxiety and maintain his/her persona undamaged, the individual protects him/herself through these.

Displacement refers to the transfer of negative emotions from the original source to a less threatening one.

In this case, Sophia is responsible for her poor performance but this generates anxiety so she transfers her lack of responsibility to her relatives and neighbors, making them the reason for it.