Psychological Strategies for Better Adjustment in Life

Presented by

Mrs. Afifa IftikharPrincipal

Govt. In-Service Training College for the Teachers of Disabled Children Lahore.

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Life is full of challenges. What defines Life is full of challenges. What defines you is how you meet these challenges; you is how you meet these challenges; whether you conquer them or whether you conquer them or succumb to them.succumb to them.

PWDs significantly face more PWDs significantly face more challenges in their life. Hence, they challenges in their life. Hence, they are more in need of coping strategies.are more in need of coping strategies.

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“ “ There are two ways of meeting There are two ways of meeting

difficulties:difficulties:

you alter the difficulties or you alter the you alter the difficulties or you alter the wayway

you meet them.” you meet them.”

(Phyllis Bottome) (Phyllis Bottome)

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Coping StrategiesCoping Strategies

Coping refers to psychological processes Coping refers to psychological processes

that help the individual to deal with that help the individual to deal with

stressful and threatening internal and stressful and threatening internal and

external challenges. external challenges.

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The way an organism perceives and responds The way an organism perceives and responds

to a stimulus initiates a chain of positive or to a stimulus initiates a chain of positive or

negative responses that is ultimately reflected negative responses that is ultimately reflected

in it’s lifestyle.in it’s lifestyle.

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Theoretically there is an infinite number of Theoretically there is an infinite number of

coping ways (including thoughts and feelings) coping ways (including thoughts and feelings)

that individuals use to manage their that individuals use to manage their

concerns. concerns.

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► In Lazarus’ view, cognitive appraisal is In Lazarus’ view, cognitive appraisal is

critical to coping. He believes that people use critical to coping. He believes that people use

two types of coping efforts: two types of coping efforts:

► Problem focused coping Problem focused coping

► Emotional focused coping Emotional focused coping

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Problem focused coping Problem focused coping

Problem focused coping is a cognitive strategy. Problem focused coping is a cognitive strategy.

In problem focused coping someone makes In problem focused coping someone makes

changes in their situation that renders it less.changes in their situation that renders it less.

Emotional focused coping Emotional focused coping

Emotional Focused Coping is Lazarus term for Emotional Focused Coping is Lazarus term for

responding to problematic situation in an emotional responding to problematic situation in an emotional

manner without changing the problem itself or the manner without changing the problem itself or the

perception of it. perception of it. 8

►Coping can be conceptualized in terms of

various domains or strategies, each strategy

comprising of specific action.

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► Focus on Solving the Problem is a problem-

focused strategy that handles the problem

systematically by its analysis and focus on different

solutions

► Work Hard and Achieve is a strategy showing

commitment with work and ambition to achieve well

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► Invest in Close Friends is about engaging in

intimate relationships and spend more time with

close friends

► Seek to Belong indicates a caring and concern for

one’s relationships with others and with what others

think

► Seek Relaxing Diversions is about relaxation in

general. It reflects pleasure activities such as

reading, painting, listening music etc11

► Focus on the Positive indicates a positive and

cheerful outlook on the problematic situation. This

includes seeing the bright side of circumstances and

considering oneself as fortunate and lucky

► Physical Recreation relates to playing sports and

keeping oneself fit and healthy

► Tension Reduction reflects an attempt to make one

self feel better by releasing tension12

► Worry shows a concern about the future happenings

in general terms and specifically concern with

happiness in the future

► Seek to Belong indicates a caring and concern for

one’s relationships with others and with what others

think

► Wishful Thinking is based on hope and anticipation

of a positive outcome13

► Ignore the Problem shows a conscious blocking out

of the problem and resignation, coupled with their

acceptance that there is no way to resolve it; not

working on the problem

► Not Cope reflects individual inability to deal with the

problem and the development of psychosomatic

symptoms

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► Self Blame indicates that an individual consider

themselves as responsible for problem or worry

► Keep to Self reflects the individual withdrawal from

others and wishes to keep other from knowing about

problems

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► Seek Spiritual Support reflects prayer and belief in

assistance of spiritual leader or God

► Seek Professional Help denotes the use of

professional advisor such as a counselor or a teacher

or some elder person

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► Social Action is about letting others know what the

problem is and enlisting support by writing petitions

or organizing activities

► Seek Social Support is explained in terms of an

inclination to share the problem with others and

enlist support in its management

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The coping strategies can best be grouped to

characterize three coping styles:

Style I

Style II

Style III

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Style I: Solving the Problem comprises of eight coping

strategies

► Seeking social support

► Focusing on solving the problem

► Physical recreation

► Tension reduction

► Seeking relaxing diversion

► Investing in close friends

► Seeking to belong

► Working hard and achieving

► Focusing on the positive

Represents a style of coping characterized by working at a problem while remaining optimistic, fit, relaxed and socially connected

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► Style II: Non-productive coping comprises of eight

strategies

► Worry

► Seeking to belong

► Wishful thinking

► Not coping

► Ignoring the problem

► Keeping to self

► Self blame

These coping strategies primarily reflect a combination of what may be termed as non-productive avoidance strategies which are empirically associated with an inability to cope

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► Style III: Reference to others contains four

strategies

► Seeking social support

► Seeking spiritual support

► Seeking professional help

► Social action

Can be characterized by turning to others for support whether they are peers, professionals, Allah or Gods.

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► Researchers proved the individual differences in

psychological adjustment in a sample of chronically

ill adults and they found that:

Cognitive/productive strategies are related

to positive effect, while emotional/non-

productive strategies are related to

negative, emotional ventilation and poor

adjustment to illness and disability.

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Problem focused Emotionally focused

Productive Non-productive strategies

Style I and III Style-II

Leads to

Healthy adjustment Mal-adjustment

Good mental health Poor mental health

Happy life Difficult life

D

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THANKS

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