Coping Mechanisms How you deal with stress, pressure and life’s changes

HIGH ADAPTIVE LEVEL (Positive ways to deal with stress) Results in optimal in handling of stressors! AnticipationAffiliation AltruismHumor Self-AssertionSublimation Individuals utilizing these coping mechanisms tend to have a realistic perspective and are honest with themselves regarding both their involvement and emotions.

ANTICIPATION Experiencing emotional reactions in advance of, or anticipating consequences of, possible future events and considering realistic, alternative responses or choices. i.e. spending more quality time with a loved one who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

AFFILIATION Turning to others for help & support This involves sharing of problems with others. i.e. self-help groups

ALTRUISM Dedication to meeting the needs of others. Gives perspective to your situation and generally makes you feel better about yourself. i.e. volunteering at a shelter.

HUMOR Emphasizing the amusing or ironic aspects of the conflict or stressor. Implies that you believe that things will be okay at some point. i.e. falling in the commons – do you get mad and crabby or do you laugh?

SELF-ASSERTION Expressing feelings and thoughts directly in a way that is not coercive or manipulative i.e. “good communication”

SUBLIMATION Channeling potentially negative feelings or impulses into socially acceptable behavior. i.e. Basquiat…graffiti artist, turned famous painter…switched the side of a building for a canvas. i.e. Angry…go for a run instead of a fight

Negative Coping Mechanisms While ok to use during times of absolute crisis, can lead to negative outcomes when used on a more regular basis. They tend to hinder or negatively affect personal relationships and typically don’t allow the user to face reality or be honest with themselves about the situation. This obviously does not allow the person to grow emotionally or learn from their experiences due to avoidance and denial about the experience.

DISPLACEMENT Transferring a feeling about, or a response to, one object onto another substitute object Shifting of intended action to a safer/ “innocent” target i.e. bad day at school…go home and yell at your parents

INTELLECTUALIZATION 'flight into reason', where the person avoids uncomfortable emotions by focusing on facts and logic. The situation is treated as an interesting problem that engages the person on a rational basis, whilst the emotional aspects are completely ignored as being irrelevant. works to reduce anxiety by thinking about events in a cold, clinical way. This defense mechanism allows us to avoid thinking about the stressful, emotional aspect of the situation and focus only on the intellectual component. i.e. a person who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness might focus on learning everything about the disease in order to avoid distress and remain distant from the reality of the situation.

REACTION FORMATION Avoiding something by taking a polar opposite view of your true feelings or thoughts. After being “broken up” with, a friend asks if you are ok – you reply “Yes”…even though you aren’t. You don’t want to even think about it, much less talk about it. Maybe if you say you’re ok, you will be? Who are you trying to convince that you’re ok??

Example of Reaction Formation EKcWK4&feature=related

IDEALIZATION Playing up the good points & ignoring the bad (romanticizing). Not realistic – uses denial – makes it to be more than it was (or is). i.e. getting back into a relationship that you weren’t very happy in, in the first place…but you just remember the good and ignore the bad parts.

IDENTIFICATION Copying others to take on their characteristics. You lose who you are If you believe that person to be superior to you, you both escape your inferiority and move more towards your ideal. Identification thus helps preserve the ego while concealing inadequacies. i.e. wearing clothes like a movie star i.e. becoming a “mini-me” of someone you think is “cool”.

DENIAL Refusing to acknowledge some painful aspect of reality or subjective experience that would be apparent to others. This way of coping can be crucial in a time of crisis to prevent a mental breakdown, however if used often it is a negative way of coping. i.e. not wanting to think about an upcoming test so not studying.

PROJECTION Falsely attributing to another your own unacceptable feelings, impulses, or thoughts. Seeing your own unwanted aspects in other people (i.e. Being a hypocrite)

RATIONALIZATION Concealing the true motivations for your thoughts, actions or feelings by creating logical reasons for bad behavior Used to avoid guilt associated with a behavior or action i.e. my computer froze so it isn’t done i.e. cheating…cuz “everyone else is” Verbally provoked, then…

REGRESSION Returning to a childlike state to avoid facing/dealing with a problem. Dealing with a situation like someone much younger than you would deal with it i.e. whining/temper tantrum

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE Indirectly and unassertively expressing aggression toward another person i.e. giving the silent treatment i.e. talking behind someone’s back

COMPENSATION Compensation lets us avoid the discomfort of feeling inferior by counterbalancing this with a feeling of superiority in an area avoid Making up for weaknesses in one area by excelling in another area. when they are faced with their weakness, they can say 'ah, but I am good at...', and hence feel reasonably good about the situation. i.e. grades vs. sports

AVOIDANCE Mentally or physically avoiding something that causes stress. i.e. skip school/class because of a test This can be good if you’re unable to be assertive – if you would have trouble saying no to something, it’s ok to just avoid the entire situation (a party that includes chemical use). Eventually you want to be able to stand up for yourself. Teeth Video:

AIM INHIBITION Lowering sights/goals to what seems more achievable. It can lead us to accept less than we might potentially otherwise gain. This basically ensures you won’t fail…protects ego - don’t have to deal with disappointment. i.e. Not aiming for a higher grade