Coping: The Psychology Of What Works

Features of Coping: The Psychology of What Works

Most people take the process of coping for granted as they go about their daily activities In many ways coping is like breathing an automatic process requiring no apparent effort However when people face truly threatening eventswhat psychologists call stressorsthey become acutely aware of the coping process and respond by consciously applying their daytoday coping skills Coping is a fundamental psychological process and peoples skills are commensurately sophisticated This volume builds on peoples strengths and emphasizes their role as positive copers It features techniques for preventing psychological problems and breaks from the traditional research approach which is modeled on medicine and focuses on pathology and treatment Collecting both awardwinning research and new findings this book may well set the agenda for research on stress and coping for the next centuryThese provocative and readable essays explore a variety of topics including reality negotiation confessing through writing emotional intelligence optimism hope masteryoriented thinking and more Unlike typical selfhelp books available at any newsstand this volume features the work of some of the most eminent researchers in the field Yet like those books it is written for the general reader as well as for the specialist and includes numerous practical suggestions and techniques It will prove an invaluable tool for a wide range of readers