Rohit's father has lost his job. Which of the following responses of Rohit shows an emotion-oriented strategy of coping?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → He keeps hoping that things will improve and keeps his anger under control
Option (1) He lists the family's monthly expenses and decides which ones to cut first — Incorrect. Listing expenses and choosing which to cut first is deciding priorities and acting on the problem. That is task-oriented coping, which deals directly with the stressful situation.
Option (2) He collects information about jobs that could suit his father's skills and age — Incorrect. Collecting information about suitable jobs is obtaining information about the situation and other courses of action. This belongs to task-oriented coping.
Option (3) He tells himself that the job loss is not serious and pushes the thought away — Incorrect. Telling himself the loss is not serious is minimising the situation, and pushing the thought away is conscious suppression of stressful thoughts. Both mark avoidance-oriented coping.
Option (4) He keeps hoping that things will improve and keeps his anger under control — Correct. Emotion-oriented coping works on one's feelings rather than on the problem. It includes efforts to maintain hope and to control one's emotions, which is what Rohit does when he keeps hoping and holds his anger in check.
NCERT (2026-27): “COPING WITH STRESS … “Task-oriented Strategy : This involves obtaining information about the stressful situation and about alternative courses of action and their probable outcome; it also involves deciding priorities and acting so as to deal directly with the stressful situation. For example, schedule my time better, or think about how I have solved similar problems.” “Emotion-oriented Strategy : This can involve efforts to maintain hope and to control one’s emotions; it can also involve venting feelings of anger and frustration, or deciding that nothing can be done to change things. For example, tell myself that it is not really happening to me, or worry about what I am going to do.” “Avoidance-oriented Strategy : This involves denying or minimising the seriousness of the situation; it also involves conscious suppression of stressful thoughts and their replacement by self-” “Activity 3.3 protective thoughts. Examples of this are watching TV, phone up a friend, or try to be with other people.” |