Editing Coping (section)

===Adaptive behavioral coping strategies===
The [[Psychology|psychological]] coping mechanisms are commonly termed ''coping strategies'' or ''coping skills''. The term ''coping'' generally refers to adaptive (constructive) coping strategies, that is, strategies which reduce stress. In contrast, other coping strategies may be coined as maladaptive, if they increase stress. Maladaptive coping is therefore also described, based on its outcome, as non-coping. Furthermore, the term coping generally refers to ''reactive coping'', i.e. the coping response which follows the [[stressor]]. This differs from ''proactive coping'', in which a coping response aims to neutralize a future stressor. Subconscious or unconscious strategies (e.g. [[defence mechanism|defense mechanisms]]) are generally excluded from the area of coping.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Baqutayan |first=Shadiya Mohamed Saleh |date=2015-03-01 |title=Stress and Coping Mechanisms: A Historical Overview |url=https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s1p479 |journal=Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences |doi=10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s1p479 |issn=2039-9340}}</ref>

The effectiveness of the coping effort depends on the type of stress, the individual, and the circumstances. Coping responses are partly controlled by [[personality]] (habitual traits), but also partly by the [[social environment]], particularly the nature of the stressful environment.<ref name="Carver">{{cite journal |doi=10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100352 |title=Personality and Coping |year=2010 |last1=Carver |first1=Charles S. |last2=Connor-Smith |first2=Jennifer |journal=[[Annual Review of Psychology]] |volume=61 |pages=679–704 |pmid=19572784|s2cid=6351970 |doi-access=free }}</ref> People using problem-focused strategies try to deal with the cause of their problem. They do this by finding out [[information]] on the problem and learning new skills to manage the problem. Problem-focused coping is aimed at changing or eliminating the source of the stress. The three problem-focused coping strategies identified by Folkman and Lazarus are: taking control, information seeking, and evaluating the pros and cons. However, problem-focused coping may not be necessarily adaptive, but backfire, especially in the uncontrollable case that one cannot make the problem go away.{{sfn|Harrington|2013|p=303}}