Coping Style Essay

The article Assessing Coping Strategies: A Theoretically Based Approach by Carver, Scheier & Weintraub proposes that they are distinct styles of coping: problem-solving coping, emotion-focused coping, and several other coping styles that were deemed to be less useful such as mental disengagement and venting of emotions. 
 After taking and scoring the COPE scale, I discovered that my preferred styles of coping includes planning, self-distraction, active coping, and use of emotional support. This does accurately seem to reflect my coping styles. I do agree with the strategies listed on the COPE scale cause I have seen other people use these strategies and I also use these strategies occasionally when I am stressed out, either consciously or subconsciously.

Whenever I have a problem or situation that putting pressure and stress on me, I try to take my mind off of it as much as possible. My number one method of self-distraction is reading books, or it used to be till I discovered Netflix. I mostly use this strategy of coping from any stress that may have occurred in an argument between my friends or families and me. I’ve been using this coping style for as long as I can remember which is why I used to be such a bookworm. Reading books was a way to escape the world I was in and all the problems that came with it and go into another world where all the problems and stress that the main character experienced were solved by the end of the book. This is still my preferred style of coping but now I have moved away from books and use movies and television as my main method of distraction. This strategy is incredibly effective for me as I generally become completely involved in whatever book or show that I’m watching, thus completely clearing my mind of any

I agree with this statement as these two coping styles can lead to severe potential long term consequences. Behavioral disengagement is when someone reduces their efforts to deal with the stressor; this is also reflected in the feeling of helplessness. Severe consequences of behavioral disengagement can include low self-esteem and depression. Venting of emotions is when one focuses on the source of the distress and then ventilates those feelings. Venting emotions can have a positive effect but there is a chance that by focusing on these emotions, you’re not actively coping with them in a healthy manner, causing you to not move on from the source of distress. A severe consequence of focusing and venting emotions can be permanent damage to interpersonal relationships as ruminating on these negative feelings can cause strain between