Which of the following scenarios illustrates compensatory rivalry?

The scenario that illustrates compensatory rivalry is when a student seeks to outperform peers. Compensatory rivalry occurs when individuals or groups feel motivated to exceed the performance of others, particularly when they perceive themselves as disadvantaged or in a competitive environment. In this case, the student’s drive to outperform classmates reflects an internal response aimed at compensating for any perceived shortcomings or a desire to establish superiority among peers.

This concept is often relevant in educational settings, where students may become more competitive when they feel that they are not performing at the same level as their classmates or believe they need to prove their abilities. Such behavior can lead to increased effort and improvement in performance as a way of compensating for the initial disadvantage. The focus on outperforming others illustrates the essence of compensatory rivalry, where the motivation is not just to improve but to exceed the accomplishments of peers actively.

In contrast, the other scenarios do not adequately capture the essence of compensatory rivalry. Misgrading of a test does not establish a competitive motivation among students; ignoring teacher advice lacks the competitive aspect entirely, and treating groups equally does not create the challenging environment necessary for rivalry to emerge.