Man who is quite critical of others thinks that people are joking about his appearance. Which of the following ego defenses best explains his behavior? a. Acting out. b. Denial. c. Int ellectualization. d. Projection.

The correct answer is b. Denial.<br /><br />Denial is an ego defense mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality or the truth of a situation. In this case, the man who is critical of others thinks that people are joking about his appearance, which indicates that he is refusing to accept the reality that others might actually be critical of him. By denying the truth, he is protecting his self-esteem and avoiding feelings of inadequacy or rejection.