Coping with Negative Life Events pp 3-13 | Cite as
The Effects of Theoretical Perspective on the Analysis of Coping With Negative Life Events
Abstract
Human beings are constantly trying to make sense out of the events in their lives. This searching for understanding makes Homo sapiens the most sophisticated theory or model generator among the multitude of living organisms. Although living organisms, for survival reasons, are intimately involved in unraveling the cause and effect relationships in their life arenas, humankind not only appears to generate the more intricate set of behaviors, but also develops the most complex explanations for the cause—effect sequences. These latter explanations of the cause—effect sequence are the essence of theory building. Much of the work of childhood is theory building and testing, and this process continues throughout the developmental sequence. Most people have a multitude of theories to explain the events in their lives and the lives of other people. A theory is a viewpoint or perspective, a way of looking at causality or the relationship between things. When theory is defined in these terms, even the most staunchly atheoretical people must be included in the human fold of theorizers. This is especially the case when people attempt to cope with the negative events in life. Theory is the very stuff by which life events and coping are defined.
Keywords
Theoretical Perspective Case History Negative Life Event Theory Building District ManagerPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
- Ansbacher, H. L., & Ansbacher, R. R. (1964). The individual psychology of Alfred Adler. New York: Harper & RowGoogle Scholar
- Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss (Vol. 1): Attachment. London: Hogarth.Google Scholar
- Epstein, S. (1984). Controversial issues in emotion theory. In P. Shaver (Ed.), Review of personality and social psychology: Emotions, relationships, and health (pp. 64–88). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
- Kuhn, T. S. (1962). The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
- Marris, P. (1975). Loss and change. Garden City, NY: Anchor/Doubleday.Google Scholar
- Reik, T. (1948). Listening with the third ear. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux.Google Scholar