Usually when Tom goes into an exam, he thinks, "What a dummy I am, always studying the wrong things." This time, however, Tom tries thinking, "I studied some of the right things, and I will do the best I can." Tom is engaging in

(A)assertiveness training.

(B)modeling.

(C)systematic desensitization.

(D)cognitive restructuring

In psychology, cognitive restructuring is a term that refers to a technique where negative and erroneous thoughts, known as cognitive distortions, are identified, rejected, and replaced by more positive and helpful ideas. In our case, when Tom thinks "What a dummy I am, always studying the wrong things", this self-deprecative perception of himself is a cognitive distortion. However, when Tom rejects this thought and instead goes with a much more positive "I studied some of the right things, and I will do the best I can", he's engaging in cognitive restructuring. This process is a core part of cognitive behavioral therapy, and has been shown to be very effective in improving mental health.