Approach, avoidance, and coping with stress.

Notes that the study of stress and coping points to 2 concepts central to an understanding of the response to trauma: approach and avoidance. This pair of concepts refers to 2 basic modes of coping with stress. Approach and avoidance are simply metaphors for cognitive and emotional activity that is oriented either toward or away from threat. Formulations of the approach–avoidance dimension are reviewed along with coping effectiveness literature. A general approach–avoidance model of coping is presented in the context of contemporary theoretical approaches to coping. The potential costs and benefits of approach and avoidance are outlined, and an ideal case of coping with stress, in which both modes would be operative, is presented. It is suggested that research focus on studying one stress or trauma at a time and following the coping processes over time. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)