Coping strategy - what is it in behavioral psychology. Types and features

Any person during the course of his life faces some kind of stressful situations. There are people who have good stress resistance, and there are those who need to look for solutions to the problem in different ways. Any type of stress begins with a lack of behavior to resolve the situation. The longer it drags on, the more serious decisions should be made. To improve their comfortable existence, many people develop in their heads different ways to eradicate the problem; the search for such ways is inevitable. Such coping techniques in psychology are called coping strategies. So what does the term coping strategy mean, who uses this method, and what is it for?

Coping is used in stressful situations

What is coping strategy?

The definition of coping strategy came to Russia from England. Translated, it means coping, control, overcoming. In psychology, coping is the search for shortcuts to resolve a stressful situation. It includes behavioral norms, cognitive and emotional ones.

The term coping strategy appeared in the 60s of the last century. It was first used by psychologist L. Murphy only in relation to children's problems. A few years later, this term was used by R. Lazarus when writing the work “Stress and Methods for Overcoming It.” In his book, he applied this concept to the psychology of stress in adults.

Theory, structure and essence of coping strategy

The fundamental concept of this term is stress. In theoretical psychology, it is considered as a situation that brings discomfort to a specific individual. This same person determines the level of discomfort for himself. A coping strategy is an individual’s reaction to the level of discomfort, assessing one’s internal potential in solving stressful situations, searching for additional resources and the ability to direct them in the right direction.

This concept describes reactions not only to global problems, but also to everyday unfavorable moments that occur in everyday life. The essence of coping behavior is to combine thoughts and actions that are aimed at overcoming an uncomfortable state.

Behavioral reactions are divided into voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary reactions are a deliberate plan of action that an individual follows, and involuntary reactions are impulsive decisions based on temperament or other characteristics of a person’s character. Involuntary reactions are beyond self-control.

The essence of coping is the ability to cope with the situation

Literature

in Russian

• Ashanina E.N. Psychology of coping behavior of employees of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia: dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Psychology - St. Petersburg 2011. - 340 p.
• Bityutskaya E.V. Modern approaches to the study of coping with difficult life situations // Bulletin of Moscow University. Ser. 14. Psychology. 2011. No. 1. P. 100-111.
• Vasilyuk F. E., Life world and crisis: typological analysis of critical situations (inaccessible link) // Journal of Practical Psychology and Psychoanalysis, No. 4 December 2001.
• Odintsova M.A. Mechanisms of psychological protection of adolescents with the “victim” attitude // Bulletin of practical psychology of education. - 2008 - No. 3. - p. 67 - 70.
• Odintsova M. A. Rogova E. A. Peculiarities of overcoming behavior of college adolescents in stressful situations
• Odintsova M.A. Semenova E.M. Overcoming strategies of behavior of Belarusians and Russians // Cultural-historical psychology. 2011. No. 3. - P. 75 - 81
• Odintsova M.A. Overcoming behavior of persons united by similar traumatic experiences // News of Saratov University. New series: Philosophy. Psychology. Pedagogy. 2021. T.15. No. 1. P. 104—110
• Odintsova M. A. Psychology of vitality. M.: Flint. 2015.
• Semichev S. B. Theory of crises and psychoprophylaxis. — Proceedings / Leningrad. scientific research Psychoneurological Institute named after. V. M. Bekhtereva, t. 63. Neuroses and borderline states. L., 1972, pp. 96-99.
• Khazova S.A. “Non-academic” abilities: the role and resource functions in the subject’s coping behavior // Psychological Research. 2021. T. 9, No. 49. P. 2. URL: https://psystudy.ru (access date: 10/01/2018).

in other languages

• Compas B. E., Forsythe, C. J., & Wagner, B. M. (1988). Consistency and variability in causal attributions and coping with stress // Cognitive therapy and research. 12, 305-320.
• Compas, B. E., Banez, G. A., Malcarne, V., & Worsham, N. (1991). Perceived control and coping with stress: A developmental perspective // ​​Journal of Social Issues (English) Russian, 47, 23-34.
• Folkman, S.;
  Lazarus, RS Coping as a mediator of emotion (English) // Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: journal. - 1988. - Vol. 54, no. 3. - P. 466-475. — DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.54.3.466. - PMID 3361419.
• Frydenberg E. (1997). Adolescent Coping: Theoretical and Research Perspectives. London: Routledge.
• Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York, Springer.
• Schwarzer R. & Scholz U. (2000). Cross-cultural assessment of coping resources: the general perceived self-efficacy scale. Paper presented at the Asian Congress of Health Psychology 2000: Health Psychology and Culture, Tokyo, Japan, August 28-29.

Classification of coping strategies

Strategies for behavior in conflict - what methods exist

Over more than 50 years of existence of the term, it has been divided into several classifications:

1. Problem-oriented;
2. Basic;
3. Coping behavioral reactions.

One psychologist, when studying this issue, accepts already selected behavioral strategies, while another offers completely new ways to solve problems with stress.

Problem-oriented coping strategies

Problem-oriented coping is aimed at helping a person change the current situation. Changing your attitude towards the latter is called an emotionally-oriented coping strategy. It includes:

• Analysis of the situation, development of a course of action, a plan of actions to be taken.
• Assessing your cognitive, emotional or behavioral contribution to the occurrence of uncomfortable moments. After this, the individual takes responsibility for his reactions in the situation that arises.
• Taking control of your own emotions and actions.
• Finding help.
• Finding ways to move away from the circumstances that have arisen.
• Escape from the problem.

In stressful situations, support from loved ones and society is very important.

Basic strategy and resources

Lazarus considered the following basic strategies:

• Possibility of resolving the current situation;
• Ignoring uncomfortable moments;
• Searching for resources from other individuals.

Coping resources that are considered basic:

• affiliation;
• empathy;
• locus control;
• personal concept;
• cognitive resources.

Coping behavior

Coping is an adaptation to current situations, achieving control over them, actions to move from uncomfortable conditions to comfortable ones. A coping strategy during a period of stress is an individual’s ability to establish worthy (according to social norms) reactions, not to become despondent, to use any help resources, and not to lose optimism.

Procedure

Instructions

You will be offered a number of statements regarding the characteristics of your behavior. Try to remember how you most often resolve difficult and stressful situations and situations of high emotional tension. Please circle the number that suits you. In each section of statements, you must select only one option with which you resolve your difficulties.

Please answer according to how you have dealt with difficult situations recently. Don’t hesitate – your first reaction is important. Be careful!

Efficiency and adaptability of coping

Coping strategies are used in many areas of life. They can be divided into those that are effective and, accordingly, ineffective. Coping is considered effective when an individual manages to get out of the stress zone with minimal emotional losses and with increased resistance to the emergence of uncomfortable problems.

Human resource management - what it is, principles and functions of the process

In different life situations, when self-control is lost, a person may not use coping strategies previously used in similar situations. This is due not only to temperament or character, but also to upbringing, socialization, etc.

Note! Adaptive coping should begin to be used as early as preschool age. With the help of these schemes, the child grows up more self-confident, with strong resistance to adverse moments, and more socialized.

There is another side to the coin. For example, if more emotionally oriented behaviors are used rather than problem-oriented ones, the child’s level of anxiety may increase and a tendency to depression may appear.

In psychology there is the concept of aggressive coping. It is a form of coping that involves physically influencing someone to resolve an uncomfortable situation. The strategy is effective, but it is not positive.

Effective strategies include actively searching for a way out of a stressful situation. Individuals who use this strategy adapt more easily and lose less emotionally.

Using a coping strategy can lead to increased comfort in life

Processing the results

The subject's answers are compared with the key. To obtain an overall score for a given strategy, the sum of the scores for all 11 items related to that strategy is calculated. The minimum score for each scale is 11 points, the maximum is 33 points.

Key

• “Problem resolution” scale
  – questionnaire items: 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 29, 33.
• Scale “seeking social support”
  – questionnaire items: 1, 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32.
• “Problem avoidance” scale
  – questionnaire items: 4, 6, 10, 13, 18, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 30.

Points are awarded according to the following scheme:

• The answer “Completely agree” is worth 3 points.
• The answer “Agree” is worth 2 points.
• The answer “Disagree” is worth 1 point.

Diagnostic technique for determining strategies

In order to determine which strategy to use in a given situation, it must be diagnosed. The diagnostic technique was developed by the psychologist Amirkhan. He divided problem solving mechanisms into 3 groups:

1. Independent resolution of the situation;
2. Seeking help from other individuals, including psychological help;
3. Self-relief from stress.

Learned helplessness - what is this condition?

Any person should know and apply all three strategies in life, because only he himself determines the level of stress. For some, the situation will be resolved without the help of society; in other cases, the person will not be able to cope with it on his own. In the second option, he will use a second or third mechanism to fix the problem.

Note! When an individual uses diagnostic techniques to determine further behavioral reactions, coping strategies are conscious and voluntary. The individual independently evaluates and takes responsibility for each of his actions.

Diagnosis can be carried out independently, using online applications, and a psychologist can also help with this if the stressful situation is prolonged and poses a threat to the mental health of the individual.

Literature

in Russian

• Ashanina E.N. Psychology of coping behavior of employees of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia: dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Psychology - St. Petersburg 2011. - 340 p.
• Odintsova M.A. Mechanisms of psychological protection of adolescents with the “victim” attitude // Bulletin of practical psychology of education. - 2008 - No. 3. - p. 67 - 70.
• Odintsova M.A. Semenova E.M. Overcoming strategies of behavior of Belarusians and Russians // Cultural-historical psychology. 2011. No. 3. - P. 75 - 81
• Odintsova M.A. Overcoming behavior of persons united by similar traumatic experiences // News of Saratov University. New series: Philosophy. Psychology. Pedagogy. 2015. T.15. No. 1. P. 104—110
• Odintsova M. A. Psychology of vitality. M.: Flint. 2015.
• Semichev S. B. Theory of crises and psychoprophylaxis. — Proceedings / Leningrad. scientific research Psychoneurological Institute named after. V. M. Bekhtereva, t. 63. Neuroses and borderline states. L., 1972, pp. 96-99.

in other languages

• Ayers T. S., Sandier I. N., West S. G., & Roosa M. W. (1996). A dispositional and situational assessment of children's coping: Testing alternative models of coping // Journal of Personality (English) Russian, 64, 923-958.
• Carpenter B. N. (1992). Issues and advances in coping research // Personal coping: Theory, research and application. Westport: Praeger. P.1-13.
• Causey D. L., & Dubow, E. F. (1993). Negotiating the transition to junior high school: The contributions of coping strategies and perceptions of the school environment. // Prevention in Human Services, 10, 59-81.
• Compas B. E., Forsythe, C. J., & Wagner, B. M. (1988). Consistency and variability in causal attributions and coping with stress // Cognitive therapy and research. 12, 305-320.
• Compas, B. E., Malcarne, V. L., & Fondacaro, K. M. (1988). Coping with stressful events in older children and young adolescents // Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (English) Russian, 563, 405-411.
• Compas, B. E., Banez, G. A., Malcarne, V., & Worsham, N. (1991). Perceived control and coping with stress: A developmental perspective // ​​Journal of Social Issues (English) Russian, 47, 23-34.
• Compas, B. E., Ey, S., Worsham, N. L., Howell, D. C. (1996). When mom or dad has cancer: II Coping, cognitive appraisals, and psychological distress in children of cancer patients // Child Development (English) Russian, 15, 167-175.
• Compas. B. E., Malcarne., V. L., & Fondacaro, K. M. (1988). Coping with stressful events in older children and adolescents. // Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (English) Russian, 56 (3), 405-411.
• Ebata, A., & Moos, T. (1991). Coping and adjustment in distressed and healthy adolescents // Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology (English) Russian, 12, 33-54.
• Frydenberg E. (1997). Adolescent Coping: Theoretical and Research Perspectives. London: Routledge.
• Herman-Stahl, M. A., Stemmler, M., & Petersen, A. C. (1995). Approach and avoidant coping: Implications for adolescent mental health // Journal of Youth and Adolescence (English) Russian, 24, 649-655.
• Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York, Springer.
• Maddi S. (2002). 8th International Conference on Motivation. Abstracts. Moscow, 2002.
• Parsons, A., Frydenberg, E., and Poole, C. (1996). Overachievement and coping strategies in adolescent males // British Journal of Educational Psychology (English) Russian, 66, 109-14.
• Schwarzer R. & Scholz U. (2000). Cross-cultural assessment of coping resources: the general perceived self-efficacy scale. Paper presented at the Asian Congress of Health Psychology 2000: Health Psychology and Culture, Tokyo, Japan, August 28-29.
• Seiffge-Krenke, I. (1998). Social skill and coping style as risk and protective factors // In I. Seiffge-Krenke, I. (Ed.), Adolescents' health: a developmental perspective (pp. 1250150). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Seligman, M. E. (1992). Learned Optimism. NSW: Random House Australia.
• Seligman, M. E. (1995). The Optimistic Child. NSW: Random House Australia.
• Solcova, I., and Tomanek, P.. (1994). Daily stress coping strategies: An effect of Hardiness // Studia Psychologica, 1994, v36 (n5), 390-392.
• Wethington E., Kessler R. C. (1991). Situations and processes of coping // The social context of coping. New York: Plenum Press, pp. 13-29.
• Williams, Paula G., Wiebe, Deborah J., and Smith, Timothy W. (1992). Coping processes as mediators of the relationship between Hardiness and health // Journal of Behavioral Medicine (English) Russian, Jun, v15 (n3): 237-255.

Consequences of passive coping strategies

The constant use of passive coping strategies leads to changes not only in external data and emotional state, but even threatens the normal functioning of human internal organs and systems. The thing is that a passive strategy, such as eliminating the stress that has arisen, does not lead to its resolution, therefore, this situation will certainly repeat itself. Since it was not resolved the first time, the person will experience emotional distress even to a greater extent than when stress initially appeared.

Important! With several similar problems repeated one after another, the person will fall into a state called chronic nervous shock. In most cases, with chronic nervous shock, a person will not be able to help himself on his own. He will need to see a psychologist.

Coping mechanisms

Every person has basic coping strategies from the moment of birth. Examples of basic strategies are the instinct of self-preservation, reflexes, etc. As a rule, basic coping strategies cannot be corrected; they can only be adjusted. In order for an independent adult not to fall into depression at the slightest exit from his comfort zone, it is necessary to teach him, even in preschool age, how to react correctly to stressful situations.

Interpretation of results

Standards for assessing test results: