Final answer:
The emotion-focused coping strategy of 'distancing' refers to minimizing the emotional impact of the stressor, which allows the person to mentally disengage from the stressful situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The coping strategy known as "distancing" involves trying to minimize the emotional impact of the stressor. This strategy is one way of handling stress through emotion-focused coping, which is especially useful when we are facing stressors that we perceive as uncontrollable. Rather than directly addressing the problem or altering the situation—which is characteristic of problem-focused coping—emotion-focused coping aims to reduce the negative emotional responses associated with the stressor. Distancing enables an individual to mentally disengage or detach from the stress-inducing situation, which can decrease the immediate emotional distress without solving the underlying problem.
Distancing as an emotion-focused coping strategy is not about physical avoidance or assertive behavior, nor is it seeking social support. It entails internal processes where a person tries to see the issue as less relevant, less significant, or more bearable. For instance, a student dealing with the stress of academic failure might adopt this strategy by viewing the situation in a less threatening light, such as thinking, "This exam is just a small part of my overall grade and life experience."
Overall, the correct answer to the original question is that the emotion-focused coping strategy called "distancing" occurs when a person c) Tries to minimize the emotional impact of the stressor.