Final answer:
The statement is an example of the defense mechanism called rationalization, where a person tries to justify or explain their feelings or behavior in a way that avoids facing the true underlying cause or discomfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
This statement is an example of the defense mechanism called rationalization. Rationalization is when a person tries to justify or explain their behavior or feelings in a way that avoids facing the true underlying cause or discomfort. In this case, the student doesn't like physical therapy because it hurts, so they are rationalizing their dislike by focusing on the pain as the reason.