Jake, a store keeper at Triscent Hypermarket, is accused of stealing food products from the store. When confronted by his manager, Jake justifies his act by claiming that his monthly pay is not sufficient to support his family of five members. In this scenario, the defense mechanism used by Jake is _____.
A)rationalization
B)fantasy
C)conversion
D)flight

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jake is using rationalization as a defense mechanism by justifying his unethical behavior (stealing) with a seemingly logical reason (insufficient pay to support his family), instead of addressing the wrongful act itself.

Jake, a Store Keeper at Triscent Hypermarket, Is Accused of Stealing