A student in your class gets picked on by other students. He says its okay because that means the other students like him. This is an example of [Select all that apply]

A. a coping strategy
B. a defense mechanism
C. a learned emotion
D. a primary emotion

1 answer

The scenario you described can be analyzed in terms of psychological concepts. Here's how the options apply:

A. a coping strategy - Yes, this could be considered a coping strategy. The student is trying to deal with the bullying by rationalizing it as a form of affection.

B. a defense mechanism - Yes, this could also be considered a defense mechanism. The student is potentially using rationalization to protect himself from the emotional pain of being bullied.

C. a learned emotion - This is less applicable here. While social interactions can influence emotions, the act of interpreting bullying as a sign of liking is more about cognitive processing than about learning an emotion in itself.

D. a primary emotion - No, this is not a primary emotion. Primary emotions are basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, etc. The student's response is more about his interpretation of a situation rather than a direct emotional reaction.

Therefore, the best selections would be A. a coping strategy and B. a defense mechanism.