George is supposed to give a presentation in his History class on Thursday and has been dreading it intensely all month (his knowledge of the topic is shaky and so is his presentation style). On Wednesday, the day before the presentation is scheduled, George's teacher, Ms. Torres, tells him that he can present the following week if he likes. Instead of taking Ms. Torres up on this offer, however, George says that he will go ahead and present the next day. Why?
A)George must have coped with his nervousness and dread by changing some relevant attitudes and beliefs.
B)George must have heard Ms. Torres incorrectly because of his anxiety; otherwise, he would obviously have postponed the presentation.
C)George must have coped with his nervousness and dread by simply blocking the presentation out of his mind completely and not thinking about it.
D)George must have low self-esteem; otherwise, he would have postponed the presentation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

George's decision to go ahead with the presentation, despite his initial dread, suggests that he might have addressed his nervousness and concerns by adjusting his attitudes or beliefs about the presentation or his ability to handle it. This choice reflects a psychological coping mechanism where confronting a fear or challenge directly can sometimes be a way to overcome it, rather than avoiding it.

George Is Supposed to Give a Presentation in His History