Avoidance coping: “Literature on coping often distinguishes coping avenues into two broad categories: approach/active coping and avoidance/passive coping. Approach coping includes behaviors that attempt to reduce stress by alleviating the problem directly, and avoidance coping includes behaviors that reduce stress by distancing oneself from the problem. Traditionally, approach coping has been seen as the healthiest and most beneficial way to reduce stress, while avoidance coping has been associated with negative personality traits, potentially harmful activities, and generally poorer outcomes. However, research has shown that some types of avoidance coping have beneficial outcomes. A study by Long and Haney found that both jogging and relaxation techniques were equally successful at lessening anxiety and increasing feelings of self-efficacy. Therefore, it seems that positive forms of passive coping such as exercise and meditation have qualitatively different outcomes from negative forms such as binge eating and drug use. These positive forms of passive coping may be particularly beneficial for alleviating stress when the individual does not currently have the resources to eliminate the problem directly, indicating the advantage of flexibility when engaging in coping behaviors.” Wikipedia
Final scene translation.
Mr. Smith (prior to being pitched off the cliff): “We need to talk!”
“You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that OK? Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change.” Jim Rohn
Dilemmatic Space: the presence of ongoing conflict between workers’ values – the morals and ethos they bring to their work – and the ways in which they are required to work. Read more.
Students! Can’t find your question? Let me make a few suggestions.
1. First, conduct a comprehensive literature review on your area of interest. Saturate yourself in the sea of research.
2. Review research that has been conducted within the last 7-10 years.
3. Understand what has been done and what has yet to be explored.
4. Pay close attention to the Recommendations section where many researchers indicate areas left to further investigate.
5. Also determine what methodologies are used and what may be feasible for you to undertake given your time and access to resources.
You want your question to be reflective of the current tide as well as something that you are passionate about and want to pursue for the next year.
JACQUELINE P. ASHBY 