A nurse is caring for an adolescent who states, "I failed my math exam because the teacher doesn't like athletes." The nurse should identify that the adolescent is using which of the following defense mechanisms?

Choice A rationale:Identification is a defense mechanism where an individual associates themselves with another person or group. It does not apply to the situation described in the question.Choice B rationale:Reaction formation involves expressing the opposite of one's true feelings or desires. It is not the most suitable defense mechanism for the situation where the adolescent blames the teacher for their failure.Choice C rationale:Regression refers to reverting to an earlier stage of development in response to stress or conflict. It does not align with the adolescent's statement about their teacher disliking athletes.Choice D rationale:Rationalization is the defense mechanism in which a person provides logical or socially acceptable reasons for their behavior, even if these reasons are not accurate. In this case, the adolescent is rationalizing their poor performance by blaming the teacher's bias against athletes. This choice best fits the situation described.