______________ coping is common when circumstances are perceived to be changeable, and _______________ coping is common when circumstances are perceived to be unchangeable.
Answers
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Key Points
Coping is the process of spending mental, conscious energy on dealing with problems in life. Mechanisms used to cope with stress attempt to overcome or diminish the amount of stress experienced.
Coping mechanisms can be categorized into three broad types: appraisal -focused, which affects thought associated with the stressor; problem-focused, which affects the stressor itself; and emotion -focused, which affects the feelings associated with the stressor.
Coping strategies can be either positive or negative. Positive or adaptive strategies decrease the amount of stress perceived and experienced, while negative or maladaptive strategies diminish symptoms of stress without addressing the real problem or disorder.
Coping ability varies to the extent that a person perceives a situation as stressful (primary appraisal) and decides he/she has the necessary resources to deal with what has been labeled stressful (secondary appraisal).
Coping-strategy selection varies among people and populations based on situational, sexual, personal, and cultural differences.
Key Terms
dissociation: A defense mechanism through which certain thoughts or mental processes are compartmentalized in order to avoid emotional stress to the conscious mind.
sensitization: The increase in behavioral response following repeated applications of a particular stimulus.
Coping with Stress
Coping is the process of spending conscious effort and energy to solve personal and interpersonal problems. In the case of stress, coping mechanisms seek to master, minimize, or tolerate stress and stressors that occur in everyday life. These mechanisms are commonly called coping skills or coping strategies. All