Coping is a dynamic, situation-specific reaction to stress. It involves a set of concrete responses to stressful situations intended to resolve the problem and reduce stress. The way we cope often depends on rigid, deep-seated beliefs, requiring us to reassess our thinking and learn coping strategies.

Individuals show consistent differences in coping strategies, which include both overt and covert activities. Endler and Parker identified three main strategies: task-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping.

The task-oriented strategy involves obtaining information about the stressful situation, deciding priorities, and acting directly to deal with it. The emotion-oriented strategy involves efforts to maintain hope, control one's emotions, vent feelings of anger, or decide that nothing can be done to change things.

Coping responses can also be categorized as problem-focused or emotion-focused. Problem-focused coping aims to alter the environment and reduce the threat value of the event. Emotion-focused coping involves strategies for changing emotions to limit the degree of emotional disruption caused by the event.

Finally, positive thinking plays a crucial role in coping. Optimists use more problem-focused coping strategies and seek help from others, whereas pessimists ignore the problem, give up their goals, or deny that the stress exists.