An office worker steals posted notes and other stationary from the office. When confronted by the office manager, the office worker says "well everyone in this office take some stationary home". Which defense mechanism is this office worker exhibiting?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The office worker is using rationalization, a defense mechanism where an individual justifies or rationalizes their behaviors or feelings with plausible but not always true reasons, in this case, by claiming that everyone takes some stationary home to justify their actions.

An Office Worker Steals Posted Notes and Other Stationary from the Office