Psychological Strategies for Better Adjustment in Life Presented by Mrs. Afifa Iftikhar Principal Govt. In-Service Training College for the Teachers of Disabled Children Lahore. 1

Life is full of challenges. What defines you is how you meet these challenges; whether you conquer them or succumb to them. Life is full of challenges. What defines you is how you meet these challenges; whether you conquer them or succumb to them. PWDs significantly face more challenges in their life. Hence, they are more in need of coping strategies. PWDs significantly face more challenges in their life. Hence, they are more in need of coping strategies. 2

“ There are two ways of meeting difficulties: you alter the difficulties or you alter the way you alter the difficulties or you alter the way you meet them.” you meet them.” (Phyllis Bottome) 3

Coping Strategies Coping refers to psychological processes that help the individual to deal with stressful and threatening internal and external challenges. 4

The way an organism perceives and responds to a stimulus initiates a chain of positive or negative responses that is ultimately reflected in it’s lifestyle. The way an organism perceives and responds to a stimulus initiates a chain of positive or negative responses that is ultimately reflected in it’s lifestyle. 5

Theoretically there is an infinite number of coping ways (including thoughts and feelings) that individuals use to manage their concerns. Theoretically there is an infinite number of coping ways (including thoughts and feelings) that individuals use to manage their concerns. 6

► In Lazarus’ view, cognitive appraisal is critical to coping. He believes that people use two types of coping efforts: ► Problem focused coping ► Emotional focused coping 7

Problem focused coping Problem focused coping is a cognitive strategy. In problem focused coping someone makes changes in their situation that renders it less. Emotional focused coping Emotional Focused Coping is Lazarus term for responding to problematic situation in an emotional manner without changing the problem itself or the perception of it. 8

► ► Coping can be conceptualized in terms of various domains or strategies, each strategy comprising of specific action. 9

► ► Focus on Solving the Problem is a problem-focused strategy that handles the problem systematically by its analysis and focus on different solutions ► ► Work Hard and Achieve is a strategy showing commitment with work and ambition to achieve well 10

► ► Invest in Close Friends is about engaging in intimate relationships and spend more time with close friends ► ► Seek to Belong indicates a caring and concern for one’s relationships with others and with what others think ► ► Seek Relaxing Diversions is about relaxation in general. It reflects pleasure activities such as reading, painting, listening music etc 11

► ► Focus on the Positive indicates a positive and cheerful outlook on the problematic situation. This includes seeing the bright side of circumstances and considering oneself as fortunate and lucky ► ► Physical Recreation relates to playing sports and keeping oneself fit and healthy ► ► Tension Reduction reflects an attempt to make one self feel better by releasing tension 12

► ► Worry shows a concern about the future happenings in general terms and specifically concern with happiness in the future ► ► Seek to Belong indicates a caring and concern for one’s relationships with others and with what others think ► ► Wishful Thinking is based on hope and anticipation of a positive outcome 13

► ► Ignore the Problem shows a conscious blocking out of the problem and resignation, coupled with their acceptance that there is no way to resolve it; not working on the problem ► ► Not Cope reflects individual inability to deal with the problem and the development of psychosomatic symptoms 14

► ► Self Blame indicates that an individual consider themselves as responsible for problem or worry ► ► Keep to Self reflects the individual withdrawal from others and wishes to keep other from knowing about problems 15

► ► Seek Spiritual Support reflects prayer and belief in assistance of spiritual leader or God ► ► Seek Professional Help denotes the use of professional advisor such as a counselor or a teacher or some elder person 16

► ► Social Action is about letting others know what the problem is and enlisting support by writing petitions or organizing activities ► ► Seek Social Support is explained in terms of an inclination to share the problem with others and enlist support in its management 17

The coping strategies can best be grouped to characterize three coping styles: Style I Style II Style III 18

Style I: Solving the Problem comprises of eight coping strategies ► ► Seeking social support ► ► Focusing on solving the problem ► ► Physical recreation ► ► Tension reduction ► ► Seeking relaxing diversion ► ► Investing in close friends ► ► Seeking to belong ► ► Working hard and achieving ► ► Focusing on the positive Represents a style of coping characterized by working at a problem while remaining optimistic, fit, relaxed and socially connected 19

► ► Style II: Non-productive coping comprises of eight strategies ► ► Worry ► ► Seeking to belong ► ► Wishful thinking ► ► Not coping ► ► Ignoring the problem ► ► Keeping to self ► ► Self blame These coping strategies primarily reflect a combination of what may be termed as non- productive avoidance strategies which are empirically associated with an inability to cope 20

► ► Style III: Reference to others contains four strategies ► ► Seeking social support ► ► Seeking spiritual support ► ► Seeking professional help ► ► Social action Can be characterized by turning to others for support whether they are peers, professionals, Allah or Gods. 21

► ► Researchers proved the individual differences in psychological adjustment in a sample of chronically ill adults and they found that: Cognitive/productive strategies are related to positive effect, while emotional/non-productive strategies are related to negative, emotional ventilation and poor adjustment to illness and disability. 22

Problem focused Emotionally focused Productive Non-productive strategies Style I and III Style-II Leads to Healthy adjustmentMal-adjustment Good mental healthPoor mental health Happy life Difficult life D 23

THANKS 24