Final answer:
Under intense stress, people sometimes use rationalization as a way of justifying faulty thinking. Rationalization is a defense mechanism where individuals substitute acceptable reasons for less-acceptable real reasons to justify their behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under intense stress, people sometimes use rationalization as a way of justifying faulty thinking. Rationalization is a defense mechanism where individuals substitute acceptable reasons for less-acceptable real reasons to justify their behaviors.
For example, if a student fails a test, they may rationalize the failure by blaming the difficulty of the test or the teacher's unfair grading. This allows them to avoid taking responsibility for their own lack of preparation or effort.
It is important to recognize rationalization as a coping mechanism and strive for self-awareness to avoid falling into this trap of faulty thinking.