Final answer:
Coping mechanisms refer to mental and behavioral efforts used to handle stress-related problems, such as employing problem-focused or emotion-focused strategies. Defense mechanisms, conversely, are unconscious behaviors meant to protect against anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The strategies that refer to specific methods for dealing with the challenges of making life changes are called coping mechanisms. Coping mechanisms are mental and behavioral efforts utilized to manage problems associated with stress. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) identified two primary types of coping: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. Problem-focused coping involves active steps to solve the problem causing stress, such as seeking tutoring for a failing class. Emotion-focused coping deals with reducing the negative emotions linked to stress, such as watching a comedy to distract from the stress of receiving a failing midterm notice.
Reaction formation, regression, and projection are examples of defense mechanisms, not coping mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are unconscious behaviors to protect the ego from anxiety. For instance, reacting with behavior opposite to one’s true feelings, regressing to a more immature behavioral stage, or attributing one's feelings to others are all defense mechanisms.