Final answer:
Tony's action of changing the channel to avoid watching a politician's commercial he disagrees with is an example of selective avoidance. The correct answer is option: b. selective avoidance
Step-by-step explanation:
When Tony switches the television channel immediately upon seeing a certain politician's commercial, he is engaging in selective avoidance. This term describes a behavior where a person avoids listening to or engaging with information that contradicts their existing beliefs or opinions. It is a common phenomenon where individuals choose to ignore information that may be discomforting or opposed to their views, a form of cognitive dissonance reduction. This can lead to a reinforcement of existing beliefs, since the information ecosystem is being filtered to exclude dissonant content.