The individual while coping with stressors generally follows two mechanisms namely Task-oriented coping and defence-oriented or emotion-focused coping.

These are based on an objective appraisal of the stressful situation on a conscious and rational level and taking a constructive course of action. This kind of coping can fall into any of the three categories such as attack, withdrawal, and compromise.

(i) In case of attack the individual directly confronts the situation. He/she assesses the feasibility of the coping resources available to him/her. He/she chooses the most promising course of action to deal with the stressor and in the course of dealing with it maintains flexibility and shifts approach if it does not seem to be working. He/she also develops new coping resources as per the situational requirement by searching out new information, developing new competencies or improving existing ones. An example of attack reaction would be when a student plans revision much before a difficult exam.

(ii) In the case of withdrawal reactions the individual admits defeat at the first instance if the situation is too difficult to handle or he/she has used an inappropriate strategy. He/she may physically or psychologically leave the stressful situation. He/she may also redirect his/her effort toward a more appropriate goal. An example of withdrawal is when one friend rejects you repeatedly, you withdraw and try to make friends with another person.

(iii) During compromise the individual may accept a substitute goal if he/she feels that the original goal cannot be obtained. This kind of reaction generally occur when the individual reassess his/her abilities and accordingly lowers his/her level of

aspiration. It also reflects the accommodative nature of the individual while coping with the adjustive demands of the stressful situation. For example a child who does not do well in a particular subject, but gets very high marks in other subjects, tries to accept the fact.