Betty justifies and convinces her mother that she was right in hitting her friend Ben. She feels Ben deserves it because he bullies her.

Betty is using

Betty is using neutralizing definitions.

Explanation:

In general terms, neutralizing can be described as an act of counterbalancing a situation by applying an opposite action or effect.

In social life, it can also be described as taking a revenge from somebody as in such scenarios the act of one person will be neutralized if he is avenged for his act.

The same phenomenon was applied by Betty for providing justification to her mom. She neutralizes the act of bullying by Ben by beating him.