Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Abstract
Coping is the adoption of conscious efforts that are directed towards solving a problem by minimizing it, mastering it, confronting it or tolerating it. The method used by a person to cope with a situation or the problem results to coping strategies, which differs with people. According to Pastorino and Doyle-Portillo (2013), the strategies fall into two main categories; the problem-focused coping strategies and the emotion-focused strategies.
To explore the application of these strategies, I will analyze the practical case of a hostage situation that took place at fictional “We Can Do It Computer Company” and the hostages were held in a native land by native freedom fighters. I will identify and explain the different coping strategies taken by each of the five hostages. Through this application, I will describe my coping skill if I was in the same hostage situation that becomes the stressor in the discussion.
The Different Coping Strategies: Hostage Situation Case
- Jane’s Denial Coping
Jane seems to have taken an emotion-focused strategy of coping with the hostage situation. This is because she directed herself towards changing the way she reacts emotionally. The strategy by Jane takes the form of denial. Jane changes her reaction to the stressor by refusing to acknowledge the existence of the problem. Jane does this by believing that the violent fighters are just making a political statement, and they will not harm the hostage. This is an aspect of denial of the risk, the problem and the danger presented by the situation.
- Joe’s confrontive coping
Joe’s coping strategy is problem-focused because it seeks to change the stressor. The strategy by Joe takes confrontive form. He uses this form of the coping strategy by using aggressive ideas and risky efforts to change the situation or the stressor; in this case the hostage situation. Joe takes this coping strategy by adopting deliberate efforts to confront the situation in practical ways to tackle the problem. To confront the freedom fighters and seeking freedom is a risky strategy, but it focuses on the real stressor, the hostage situation.
- Thomas’s Escape-Avoidance Coping
Thomas uses emotion-focused strategy of coping. This strategy by Thomas takes the form of escape-avoidance coping. This is because Thomas tries to change his reaction to the stressor, in this case the hostage situation. More specifically, Thomas tries to shift his attention away from the hostage situation (the stressor) and drives it to other activities by himself. He engages in keeping to himself and avoiding the friends so that they do not remind him of the events. This way, Thomas uses emotion-focused strategy of escape-avoidance coping.
- Tanya’s Planful Problem-Solving
Tanya takes a problem-focused coping strategy of changing the stressor. Tanya’s well thought coping strategy exactly takes the form of planful problem-solving. This is because Tanya analyses the situation with a view of identifying the possible solutions to the problem; in this case the hostage situation. Tanya’s problem-solving strategy is valid because all the analysis and planning seeks to implement the best solution of escaping on a time when the best opportunity presents itself. To maintain the strategy, Tanya remains calm and believes in her plan, which will be implemented when she gets the best window of opportunity.
- Chris’s Positive Reappraisal
Chris takes an emotional-focused strategy of coping with the hostage situation, as he tries to change his reaction to the stressor. More specifically, Chris’s strategy takes a different form of positive reappraisal. This is because Chris attempts to reduce the negative emotional aspect of the hostage situation. To do this, Chris tries to focus on personal growth, and growth of others in a bid to create a positive meaning of the situation. By starting a school for the children, Chris attempts to turn the negative hostage situation into a meaningful experience.
My coping: Planful Problem-Solving
Personally, I would take the problem-focused coping strategy. To achieve this strategy, I would specifically take the form of Planful Problem-Solving coping, and plan to escape. I would do this by skillfully and carefully analyzing the hostage situation with a view of identifying the weaknesses in the security of the freedom fighters. This would open me identify possible solutions and select the best of them. I would then wait for the most appropriate opportunity to emerge and implement the escape plan. Moreover, I would evaluate my colleagues and enjoin them in the plan, especially Tanya, who seems to identify with my coping strategy.
References
Pastorino, E. & Doyle-Portillo, S. (2013). What is psychology? Essentials.(2nd ed.). Belmont CA: Wadsworth.