EVOLUTION OF THE COPYING STRATEGIES CONCEPT: FROM CLASSICAL THEORIES TO MODERN RESEARCH

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of the coping strategies concept in psychological science, tracing its development from the first theoretical concepts to modern research. The historical trajectory of the study of coping strategies is analyzed, starting from the introduction of the term by L. Murphy in 1962 to modern neurobiological research. Particular attention is paid to the contribution of R. Lazarus and S. Folkman, who proposed a transactional model of stress and coping, defining coping as dynamic cognitive and behavioral efforts aimed at overcoming stressful situations. The main theoretical approaches to understanding coping strategies are investigated: psychoanalytic, dispositional, transactional and resource. The differences between coping strategies and defense mechanisms by the criteria of consciousness, constructiveness and localization of the threat are revealed. The classification of coping strategies is presented, in particular, their division into problem-focused and emotional-focused. Their features and mechanisms of action are described. The article highlights current areas of research on coping strategies, including the study of their cultural characteristics, the relationship with neuroplasticity and the role in the prevention of mental disorders. The works of outstanding researchers, such as C.S. Carver, M.F. Scheier, B.S. McEwen, C.M. Aldwin, who have expanded the understanding of the relationship between personality characteristics and the choice of coping strategies, are analyzed. The structural components of coping (coping process, coping behavior, coping strategies) and their role in the adaptation of the individual to stressful situations are reviewed. The importance of an integrated approach to the formation of coping strategies, taking into account individual, social and cultural factors, is emphasized. The article demonstrates significant progress in understanding the mechanisms of overcoming stress and opens up prospects for the practical application of the accumulated knowledge in psychological practice.

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