Activity Assignment: Methods of Coping
For each of the following situations, give one example of an emotion-focused method of coping (i.e., seeking sympathy, rationalizing, redirection of attention) and one example of a problem-focused method of coping (i.e., taking direct action to deal with the problem). You can review pgs. 523-538 (section 14.4) for a refresher on what an emotion-focused and problem-focused method are.
1. One of your co-workers avoids you and describes you in an unfavorable and mean way to others.
o Emotion focused:
o Problem focused:
2. You are getting below-average grades in your chemistry class.
o Emotion focused:
o Problem focused:
3. You lost your job when the store in which you worked at closed down.
o Emotion focused:
o Problem focused:
4. The person you love has started acting distant with you.
o Emotion focused:
o Problem focused:
5. You just found out that one of your children needs a liver transplant.
o Emotion focused:
o Problem focused: