Explain the different ways of coping with stress psychology 12 ch 3
Answers
Endler and Parker suggests 3 step coping strategies:
Coping: is a dynamic situation specific reaction to stress. It is a set of concrete responses to stressful situation or events that are intended to resolve the problem and reduce stress.
Task- oriented Strategy: this involves obtaining sufficient info about the stress full situation and alternative courses of action and there probable outcome. It involves taking action based on the above information and deal with the stressful situation. For eg-
Your stress for being late to work..You analyse reasons of getting late, course of action-Time management, timely service of vehicle to ensure you eliminate the reasons of delay.
Emotional oriented strategy- This involves addressing emotion and by maintain hope. E.g. giving vent to your anger by hitting punching bag, watching entertainment program to reduce your stress. To give hope to someone ailing by telling positive outcomes.
Avoidance- oriented strategy- This involves denying or minimizing the seriousness of the situation. It also involves conscious suppression of stressful thoughts and their replacement by protective thoughts.
e.g. watching TV, phone up a friend.
Lazarus and Folkman coping strategy:
As per them coping is a dynamic process rather than an individual trait. It refers to constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to Master, tolerate or reduce the internal/external demands created by stressful transactions.
According to them coping responses can be divided into two types: problem focused & emotion focused.
Problem focused: this strategy attacks the problem itself, by gaining more information about the problem, causes, and possibilities of altering the event. Explore the behavioural and cognitive coping options and confronting the stress giving problem.
Emotional focused: this focuses on dealing with the emotions and not the problem (by controlling or giving vent) by psychological changes to limit the degree of emotional disruption caused by the event.
e.g. Sharing your emotions caused by stress by talking to someone, distracting your mind with something that gives positive emotions.