Which behavior suggests incongruence?

Which behavior suggests incongruence?

• A. Consistently getting A's on tests and thinking you're stupid.
• B. Rewarding a little brother for lying to the mother.
• C. Imagining that the teacher is short tempered like your mother.
• D. Taking the day off when invited to the beach.

Answer: (A)

Incongruence happens when a person’s self-concept doesn't align with their actual experiences or abilities. Here, consistently earning high grades shows real competence, while the belief that you’re stupid is a negative self-view that contradicts that evidence. The mismatch between what you can do and what you think about yourself creates inner conflict and distress, which is the hallmark of incongruence. The other options reflect different issues (moral boundary problems, projection, or avoidance) but not this split between self-perception and reality.

Incongruence happens when a person’s self-concept doesn't align with their actual experiences or abilities. Here, consistently earning high grades shows real competence, while the belief that you’re stupid is a negative self-view that contradicts that evidence. The mismatch between what you can do and what you think about yourself creates inner conflict and distress, which is the hallmark of incongruence. The other options reflect different issues (moral boundary problems, projection, or avoidance) but not this split between self-perception and reality.