coping [Gk, kolaphos, buffet] , a process by which a person deals with stress, solves problems, and makes decisions. The process has two components, cognitive and noncognitive. The cognitive component includes the thought and learning necessary to identify the source of the stress. The noncognitive components are automatic and focus on relieving the discomfort. Many defense mechanisms fall into this category. Although sometimes useful, noncognitive measures may fail to relieve the stress because the response may be inappropriate, may have the wrong effect, and, as it replaces cognitive coping measures, may prevent the person from learning more about the cause and finding a better solution for the problem.
