What defense mechanism is the student using when he cheats on an exam saying that all other students were cheating too?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rationalization is the defense mechanism where an individual justifies or explains an unacceptable behavior or feeling in a logical or rational manner, avoiding the true reasons behind the behavior. In this case, the student is justifying cheating by claiming that everyone else is doing it, which is a classic example of rationalization.

What Defense Mechanism Is the Student Using When He Cheats