A student fails two exams and stops going to class, believing nothing they do will matter. What is this?
Learned helplessness (Seligman) — passive behaviour from exposure to unavoidable aversive events; belief that outcomes are beyond one’s control. Contributes to depression.
A person thinks “I failed this quiz — I’m going to fail the course, fail out of school, and ruin my life.” What is this?
Catastrophic thinking (Ellis) — unrealistically negative appraisals that exaggerate the magnitude of problems. Caused by irrational assumptions (e.g., “I must succeed at everything”).
What are the 3 features of constructive coping?
(1) Confront problems directly — action-oriented. (2) Realistic appraisals of stress and coping resources. (3) Recognize and regulate emotional reactions.
Stress leads someone to binge-eat, drink heavily, and spend excessively. What coping category is this?
Self-indulgence — a maladaptive behavioural response to stress (reduced impulse control).
What is defensive coping, and can it ever be adaptive?
Using unconscious defence mechanisms to shield from unpleasant emotions via self-deception/denial. Generally less optimal — but small positive illusions can sometimes be adaptive for mental health.
