Question

Which of the following is the BEST example of minimization?

1) c. "I already missed class yesterday, so I might as well skip today too."
2) "This class is never going to help me lose weight."
3) d. "It doesn't matter if I skip my class, since it is not very challenging anyway."
4) a. "If I miss class, the instructor is going to think I am slacking."

Answer 1

The best example of minimization is the statement that diminishes the importance of attending a class by suggesting it's not very challenging. This statement represents the psychological defense mechanism where significance of events or emotions are downplayed. The BEST example of minimization is option 3: "It doesn't matter if I skip my class, since it is not very challenging anyway."

Step-by-step explanation:

The BEST example of minimization is option 3: "It doesn't matter if I skip my class, since it is not very challenging anyway." Minimization is a defense mechanism where a person downplays the significance or impact of an event or emotion.

This statement reflects minimization because the student is reducing the importance of class attendance by suggesting the class is not challenging, thereby making it seem less significant to attend. The other statements involve different thought processes, such as rationalizing continued absence, lacking motivation due to perceived irrelevance, or worrying about the instructor's perception, rather than minimizing.