Question

Although Alex is frequently caught stealing money and other valuables from friends and strangers, he does not feel guilty or remorseful about his actions. Alex clearly demonstrates a(n):

defense mechanism called "rationalization."
inferiority complex.
oral fixation.
weak superego.

Answer 1

Alex's lack of guilt or remorse for stealing money and valuables suggests he has a weak superego, reflecting a deficiency in internalizing societal morals and deterring conscience-based anxiety that would normally prevent such antisocial behaviors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Alex, who frequently steals money and valuables without feeling guilt or remorse, exhibits a weak superego. In Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the superego is the component of personality responsible for moral standards and ideals, guiding behavior to be socially acceptable. A weak superego may result in an inability to feel guilt or remorse over actions that go against societal norms, indicating a lack of internalized moral standards. This weakness can lead to antisocial behaviors, such as stealing, without experiencing the consequences that typically deter such actions. On the other hand, a defense mechanism like 'rationalization' involves justifying unacceptable behaviors by substituting acceptable reasons for the less acceptable real reasons. This does not appear to be the case with Alex as he doesn't show any attempts to justify his actions, instead simply not feeling the weights of guilt or morality that would stem from a functional superego.