Theories of a Stress-Coping Behavior: Searching for Neurocognitive Mechanisms

Abstract

The article proves that the main form of overcoming stress is coping behavior, which is understood as a purposeful social and neurophysiologically determined behavior that allows a person to cope with stress in ways that meet the characteristics of the individual and the situation. Coping behavior is considered a synonym for stress-coping behavior, which is expressed in the use of coping strategies by the individual. Personal characteristics and situational factors determine the choice of coping behavior strategies. The article aims to resolve the contradictions of multimodal approaches to the problem in question in the post-Soviet countries and group theories that include not only external social but also neurophysiological factors. The article shows that the choice of coping strategies mostly depends on personal and neurophysiological factors. These include neurophysiological reflexive or instinctive and higher ones: adequate self-concept, positive self-esteem, personality anxiety, cognitive style, and energy resources, which include endurance and temperament characteristics, intelligence, creativity, and locus of personality control. Overcoming a stressful situation is impossible without cognitive "processing," which becomes available through reflection. The influence of reflection on the choice of coping strategy of the individual is that reflective individuals choose more adaptive and effective strategies. The international relevance of the article lies in discovering neuroscientific aspects of the problem in question in the post-Soviet countries, which will allow these countries to contribute to the global scientific interdisciplinary discourse.