A student who fails an exam begs, cries, and pouts. This is an example of which defense mechanism?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The behavior of begging, crying, and pouting after failing an exam is an example of regression, which is a defense mechanism where an individual reverts to a behavior typical of an earlier developmental stage in order to cope with a stressful situation. In this case, the student is going back to a childlike behavior in the hopes of eliciting sympathy and avoiding the consequences of the exam failure.

A Student Who Fails an Exam Begs, Cries, and Pouts