A student who has never written a term paper and is frightened by the prospect of such an effort may avoid reading the directions for the paper. "No one writes papers in French," or "You never told us what to do," might be used to deal with the problem. The student is using _______________. 


A. avoidant coping

B. learned helplessness

C. a defense mechanism

D. emotion-focused coping
i want to say its A?? help!

I agree.

You are correct! The student is using avoidant coping. Avoidant coping is a defense mechanism in which a person consciously or unconsciously avoids dealing with a stressful or challenging situation. In this case, the student is avoiding reading the directions for the paper, possibly out of fear or anxiety about the task. This coping strategy allows the student to temporarily escape the stress of writing the paper, but it does not address the underlying problem and may lead to negative consequences in the long run.

To determine the correct answer, let's break down the options and understand each one:

A. Avoidant coping: This refers to the strategy of avoiding or ignoring a difficult or challenging situation altogether. It involves evading the problem rather than confronting it directly.

B. Learned helplessness: This term describes a belief that an individual develops when they repeatedly face negative or uncontrollable situations, leading them to believe that they have no control or ability to change their circumstances. This can result in the individual feeling helpless and becoming passive in their approach to challenges.

C. Defense mechanism: Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that individuals employ unconsciously to protect themselves against feelings of anxiety or discomfort. These mechanisms operate at an unconscious level and redirect our thoughts or behavior in order to minimize anxiety or protect the ego.

D. Emotion-focused coping: This coping strategy involves managing and regulating one's emotional response to a difficult situation rather than directly addressing the problem itself.

From the given options, the closest match to the described situation is A. Avoidant coping. The student's behavior of avoiding reading the directions for the paper suggests an attempt to evade the challenging task of writing a term paper.

Therefore, your initial assertion that it is option A, avoidant coping, appears to be the most appropriate answer.