Final answer:
The correct answer to the question about a person claiming a Dairy Queen sundae had no calories is C) Denial, a psychological defense mechanism where reality is refused and blocked from awareness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in this question pertains to an example of a psychological defense mechanism. The student has made a statement suggesting that a Dairy Queen sundae they consumed did not contain any calories, which indicates a form of psychological denial. The correct answer is C) Denial.
Denial is a defense mechanism postulated by Sigmund Freud, where an individual refuses to accept reality, thus blocking external events from awareness. If a person has consumed a high-calorie food like a sundae and then claims that it contained no calories, they are exhibiting denial by refusing to accept the fact that they consumed something potentially unhealthy or against their dietary goals.
Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological strategies used to cope with reality and maintain self-image. By denying the caloric content of the sundae, the individual may be attempting to maintain a self-image of adhering to a healthy diet or to alleviate guilt associated with consuming high-calorie foods.