Coping in psychology refers to the conscious and unconscious efforts we put in to manage internal and external stressful situations. It is the minds built-in troubleshoot program that aims to restore its optimum functioning state. Coping mechanisms can be cognitive or behavioral strategies that we use to manage the demands of a situation when these are appraised as taxing or exceeding ones resources. Coping strategies can be individual or social, and they can be adaptive (constructive) or maladaptive (non-coping) .

Adaptive coping strategies are those that reduce stress, while maladaptive coping strategies increase stress. Some coping mechanisms prove useful in certain situations, while others are associated with worse outcomes. Maladaptive coping mechanisms include disengagement, avoidance, and emotional suppression. Coping influences patients compliance to therapy and the course of the disease by lifestyle changes. Coping styles may be helpful in patients educational programs or psychotherapy, and paying attention to them could contribute to the prevention of sequelae.

Coping responses are partly controlled by personality (habitual traits), but also partly by the social environment, particularly the nature of the stressful environment. People using problem-focused strategies try to deal with the cause of their problem by finding out information on the problem and learning new skills to manage the problem.

In summary, coping in psychology refers to the conscious and unconscious efforts we put in to manage internal and external stressful situations. Coping mechanisms can be cognitive or behavioral strategies that we use to manage the demands of a situation when these are appraised as taxing or exceeding ones resources. Coping strategies can be adaptive or maladaptive, and they can be individual or social. Coping responses are partly controlled by personality and partly by the social environment. People using problem-focused strategies try to deal with the cause of their problem.