Final answer:
The student's statement is an example of rationalization, where they justify a lower grade by blaming the teacher's supposed dislike rather than self-reflecting on their own performance or effort.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "I would have gotten an A, but my teacher didn't like me," is an example of c) rationalization. Rationalization is a defense mechanism where an individual justifies their behavior by substituting acceptable reasons for less-acceptable real reasons. In this case, the student is justifying the lower grade by blaming the teacher's personal feelings rather than considering other factors such as performance or effort.
The statement "I would have gotten an A, but my teacher didn't like me" exemplifies the defense mechanism of rationalization. Rationalization involves the psychological process of justifying one's actions or feelings by providing acceptable reasons, which may differ from the actual, less acceptable reasons. In this instance, the student rationalizes the lower grade by attributing it to the teacher's perceived dislike rather than acknowledging other potential factors such as academic performance or effort.
By employing rationalization, the individual shields themselves from the discomfort associated with personal responsibility or shortcomings. This defense mechanism allows them to maintain a positive self-image by assigning external factors as the cause for their perceived failure, serving as a psychological strategy to protect one's ego and cope with adverse outcomes.