Question

The student dresses up as Albert Einstein on the day of the math exam in order to feel more confident about the test.

A) Repression
B) Sublimation
C) Denial
D) Displacement

Answer 1

B) Sublimation is the psychological defense mechanism that involves channeling or redirecting one's impulses or emotions into a more socially acceptable or productive outlet. In this case, the student dressing up as Albert Einstein on the day of the math exam is a way of sublimating their anxiety or nervousness into a more positive and confident mindset. It's like using their admiration for Einstein as a source of inspiration to feel more at ease during the test.

Answer 2

Option (B), The student dressing up as Albert Einstein for a math exam is an example of sublimation, where anxiety about the exam is transformed into a positive action to boost confidence.

Step-by-step explanation:

To answer the question related to the scenario where a student dresses up as Albert Einstein to boost confidence on a math exam, the behavior can be associated with a defense mechanism. Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play by individuals, unconsciously, to handle thoughts and feelings that are too difficult to consciously acknowledge.

In this case, the student is not using repression (A), denial (C), or displacement (D) as they are not blocking, refusing, or transferring feelings onto another target. The closest match is sublimation (B), which is when unacceptable impulses or emotions are transformed into more acceptable actions or behaviors. The act of dressing up as Einstein is a way to channel the student's anxiety about the exam into a positive action that boosts self-confidence.