How do we cope? Flashcards
What is coping?
Research recognises 2 major functions of coping:
regulating stressful emotions
altering the person - environment relation causing the distress
What leads to coping? Appraisal of the environment Goal has been threatened, lost or harmed Appraisal characterised by negative emotions more?
Basic emotions such as anger and fear result in quick fixes to immediate situation
Secondary emotions such as annoyance and anxiety lead to repetitive actions and ruminations
For example - Getting Stressed
Positive emotions
More long term appropriate solutions to problems
BUT
How can you experience positive emotions when you are stressed?
How do we cope?
First … Attempts to reduce the negative emotions Negative emotions: Can be stressful in themselves May interfere with effective coping
Emotions integral to coping process:
As an outcome of coping
As a response to new information
As a result of reappraisals of the status of the situation
Outcome is:
successful - positive emotions
unclear or unfavourable - negative emotions
Positive emotional reactions
- long term solutions
Research Barbara Frederickson’s ‘Broaden and Build theory’ Joy Interest Contentment Love
How do positive emotions help us solve our problems?
Negative emotional reactions
Fight and flight mechanism (ANS) directs us towards a quick solution based upon the immediate context
Includes:
Increased blood flow
Increase blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugars and fats
Increased muscle tension
Emotion regulation
Coping is strongly associated with the regulation of emotion throughout the stress process
keep the good and limit the bad?
Emotion regulation – attempts to manage emotional states
Stress, moods, positive or negative affect
Determines the offset of an emotional response
2 commonly used forms of emotional regulation?
Cognitive reappraisal
Expressive suppression
Cognitive reappraisal
Expressive suppression
2 commonly used forms of emotional regulation
