he other hand, aims to avoid confrontation with a problem and seeks to maintain a comfortable status by distorting or denying disturbing emotions or information. Coping resembles decision making, whereas defense is like a reflex withdrawal from a painful stimulus (Jacobson, 1978). The classic defense mechanisms such as projection and repression are seen as just one class of adaptive strategies, useful mainly in the short term.
Mastery refers to situations in which adaptive efforts are successful. Problems to be mastered have a certain cognitive or manipulative complexity, but anxiety is not a major element. Mastery is attained chiefly by repetition and persistence.
Lazarus (1974, pp. 249-255) has distinguished coping and problem-solving. Problem-solving consists of deliberate, flexible, rational attempts at mastery under conditions of relatively low stakes to the organism. Coping involves strong drive, frustration, stress or emotion and refers to "problem-solving efforts made by individuals when the demands they face are highly relevant to their w
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