AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Rationalization. For example, a person who is turned down for a date might rationalize the situation by saying they were not attracted to the other person anyway. A student might rationalize a poor exam score by blaming the instructor rather than admitting their own lack of preparation.

Detailed explanation-2: -Regression is a defense mechanism in which people seem to return to an earlier developmental stage. This tends to occur around periods of stress-for example, an overwhelmed child may revert to bedwetting or thumb-sucking. Regression may arise from a desire to reduce anxiety and feel psychologically safe.

Detailed explanation-3: -Both of these defenses help the individual to disavow true motives and actions. However, projection involves the added step of misattributing the motives to others, whereas rationalization is mainly concerned with disavowal of motivations from oneself (Perry 1990).