coping mechanism

noun

Psychology.

1. an adaptation to environmental stress that is based on conscious or unconscious choice and that enhances control over behavior or gives psychological comfort.

Example Sentences

“If people hurt me, I would pretend they were dead. I would think of how it happened — whether they had a heart attack in the front lawn or died in a car accident — and it was a coping mechanism for me. I practically convinced myself that they were really gone and not in my life anymore. Then, I could move on.”

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Analysts also caution that the trend may prove cyclical—an emotional coping mechanism tied to the current downturn rather than a permanent shift in values.

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What was once a coping mechanism became a way of chronicling the quotidian and memorizing the mundane.

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“His own coping mechanism was radical niceness to everybody — making human connections so that he would have community and feel like he’s making things better.”

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She said she believed the theft may have been a part of a coping mechanism and likened herself to a foster child who may hoard items or food as a means of soothing themselves.

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When To Use

What are coping mechanisms?

A coping mechanism is a psychological strategy or adaptation that a person relies on to manage stress. Sometimes, coping mechanisms are intentional choices, while other times a person may be unaware that they’re using them.In this context, mechanism refers to a method or process, and coping means “dealing with problems or difficulties.” So a coping mechanism is a way to deal with the stress caused by life.The term coping mechanism is used in psychology. but it’s more than just a technical term used by psychologists and therapists. It has entered the popular vocabulary to the point that you may hear it in everyday life, such as in self-help books or from people on social media discussing their mental health.