A man has cheated on his wife and he feels very guilty, but soon he begins to make excuses, saying how his wife has nagged him for years. The defense mechanism that BEST explains his behavior is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rationalization involves justifying or excusing one's behavior by coming up with logical reasons or explanations that make the behavior seem acceptable or understandable. In this scenario, the man is excusing his cheating by blaming his wife and using her perceived "nagging" as a justification for his behavior.

A Man Has Cheated on His Wife and He Feels