Chapter 4E Flashcards
coping flexibility
our ability to modify our coping strategies to meet the demands of different stressful situations.
individuals with high coping flexibility
quickly recognize and adjust their coping strategies if they are ineffective.
individuals with low coping flexibility
tend to rely on the same, limited coping strategies across different situations, and persist with them even if they are ineffective.
context specific effectiviness
refers to when a coping strategy matches or is appropriate to the stressful situation.
approach strategies
efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects, adaptive. (e.g. seeking advice from an expert, talking through your problems with a friend or family member)
avoidance strategies
used to avoid the stressor rather than deal with it directly, maladaptive. (e.g. procrastination, substance use/abuse, napping/ oversleeping, exercise in most cases)
benefits of approach strategies
-more adaptive and effective.
-people who rely on approach strategies tend to experience fewer psychological symptoms.
limitations of approach strategies
-may increase stress levels while the individual is directly engaged with the stressor and its cause.
-may require a lot of energy focus to deal with the stressor, meaning other aspects of life may be neglected.
benefits of avoidance strategies
-allows you to conserve energy to focus on other stressors that can be changed.
-disengagement may be appropriate in a situation where nothing can be done.
-can be more effective in coping with stress in the short term.
limitations of avoidance strategies
-tend to be maladaptive
-long term use of avoidance strategies can also contribute to other problems.
-long term use can prevent people from responding to the stressors in constructive ways.
