Reinterpreting a perceived insult from a friend as the product of your friend's "bad day" would be an example of ____.
A) problem-focused coping
B) cognitive reappraisal
C) a defense mechanism
D) the fundamental attribution error

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reinterpreting the insult as a result of the friend's bad day is an example of cognitive reappraisal, which involves changing the meaning of a situation to reduce its emotional impact. This is different from problem-focused coping, which involves taking concrete actions to solve the problem, and defense mechanisms, which involve unconsciously protecting oneself from unpleasant emotions. The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to attribute someone's behavior to internal, dispositional factors rather than external situational factors, but that is not applicable in this scenario.

Reinterpreting a Perceived Insult from a Friend as the Product