2.3: Reading-Coping Mechanisms

1.2.3.1. Exercise 2-Reading Comprehension

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

¹People have many different strategies for dealing with stressful situations — some helpful, and some not so helpful. Psychologists call these “coping mechanisms.” A coping mechanism is a method that a person uses to deal with stress or conflict. It is a way for a person to “master” or minimize the effect of a stressful situation.

²Psychologists categorize coping mechanisms into two different categories: adaptive coping mechanisms and maladaptive coping mechanisms.

1.2.3.1.1. Adaptive Coping Mechanisms

³Adaptive coping mechanisms are positive ways people alleviate stress.

1.2.3.1.1.1. Anticipation

⁴Anticipation is a way to reduce the stress of a difficult challenge by anticipating what it will be like and preparing for how to cope with it. Some literary critics believe that this is the reason why people enjoy reading about, watching, and analyzing tragedies. Thinking about tragic events helps people prepare for unforeseen difficult circumstances.

1.2.3.1.1.2. Seeking Support

⁵Finding emotional support from others or asking for help can be an instrumental way of maintaining emotional health during a difficult period. The brain’s response to worry enhances the effectiveness of this strategy. Stress releases neurohormones that strengthen your ability to seek emotional support by increasing your empathy and encouraging you to look for close social bonds.

1.2.3.1.1.3. Problem-Solving

⁶Problem-solving focuses on locating the source of the problem and determining solutions, or action steps. Developing a plan can help lessen stress that comes from the unknown. Problem-solving can be strengthened by creativity, and it is a useful response to both simple and complex issues. A strong problem-solving process involves defining the issue, brainstorming alternatives, evaluating and choosing between these alternatives, and implementing solutions.

1.2.3.1.1.4. Humor

⁷People of all ages and cultures respond to humor. Studies show people who laugh and smile often live longer and develop healthier relationships. Humor is also a common coping mechanism because it can diffuse the tension of a stressful situation. However, when humor is overused as a coping mechanism, it can lead to denial or avoidance (explained later).

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1.2.3.1.2. Maladaptive Coping Mechanisms

⁸Maladaptive, or negative, coping mechanisms are more effective in the short term than the long term. Using a maladaptive coping mechanism may help people diminish negative feelings for a few days or weeks. But usually, these strategies may only make stress levels rise in the long run.

1.2.3.1.2.1. Denial

⁹Denial is the refusal to accept truth or fact. People are said to be “in denial” when they act as if the problem doesn’t exist, refusing to acknowledge the reality of a situation. Sigmund Freud, the famous psychoanalyst who was the first person to study the significance of dreams, is credited with popularizing the idea of denial. He explains it as the moment when a person is faced with a fact too uncomfortable to accept. Instead of facing the problem, the person decides to reject its existence or minimize its importance despite overwhelming evidence proving the contrary. Freud believed that denial was a primitive coping mechanism — one that babies develop in early childhood.

1.2.3.1.2.2. Projection

¹⁰Another maladaptive coping mechanism is projection. People are said to “project” their emotions on others when they blame someone else for having an emotion that they feel is unacceptable. For example, a husband who feels angry at his wife may accuse her of being the angry one instead of admitting that he is actually the angry one.

1.2.3.1.2.3. Dissociation

¹¹Dissociation is another maladaptive coping mechanism. It is when a person tries to “disconnect” from a traumatic or stressful event. In extreme cases, a person who has dissociative behavior may even invent a new imaginary world where they do not have to face an uncomfortable feeling or memory.

¹²While dealing with stress, it is important to prioritize your physical, mental, and social well being. When you are facing a stressful situation, learn to relax so that you can carefully evaluate how you should respond. It is also important to maintain your mental health: think positively, exercise frequently, get enough sleep, and don’t be afraid to express emotions and ask for help. If you follow these simple strategies, you’ll have an easier time responding to the inevitable stress that you will face in your life.

1. PART A: Which of the following statements best expresses a central idea of the text?
   1. The best way to cope with stress is to remain positive and ignore all negative emotions, rather than dwell on stressful situations.
   2. Studying one’s dreams is a great adaptive coping mechanism because it prompts one to reflect on their life choices.
   3. All adaptive coping mechanisms become maladaptive if utilized and relied on too frequently.
   4. People use different methods to deal with stress, which can produce positive and negative consequences depending on how one chooses to cope.
2. PART B: Which quote from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
   1. “People have many different strategies for dealing with stressful situations — some helpful, and some not so helpful.” (Paragraph 1)
   2. “when humor is overused as a coping mechanism, it can lead to denial or avoidance” (Paragraph 7)
   3. “Sigmund Freud, the famous psychoanalyst who was the first person to study the significance of dreams, is credited with popularizing the idea of denial.” (Paragraph 9)
   4. “a person who has dissociative behavior may even invent a new imaginary world where they do not have to face an uncomfortable feeling or memory.” (Paragraph 11)
3. PART A: What does “primitive” mean as it is used in paragraph 9?
   1. uncivilized
   2. old-fashioned
   3. instinctive
   4. foolish
4. PART B: Which phrase from paragraph 9 best supports the answer to Part A?
   1. “to reject its existence”
   2. “despite overwhelming evidence”
   3. “proving the contrary”
   4. “develop in early childhood”
5. What is the author’s primary purpose in this text?
   1. to inform the reader about various adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms
   2. to advise the reader on how to deal with specific stressful situations
   3. to explain how stress can harm someone mentally, emotionally, and physically
   4. to provide a history of psychology and its everyday benefits

“Coping Mechanisms” by CommonLit Staff is licensed by CommonLit under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0