Practise IB Psychology HL 3.1.9 questions by discussing prevention, coping and health promotion, then evaluating treatments and programmes.
Evaluate two strategies for coping with stress.
Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "evaluate" requires candidates to make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations of two specific strategies for coping with stress. Although a discussion of both strengths and limitations is required, it does not have to be evenly balanced to gain high marks.
Relevant strategies (including models and techniques) may include, but are not limited to:
- Lazarus and Folkman's (1975,1988) model (known as the Transactional Model) which proposes that stress can be reduced by helping stressed people change their perceptions of stressors, providing them with strategies to help them improve their confidence in their ability to do so
- the health realization / innate health model of stress proposes that helping stressed individuals understand the nature of thought, providing them with the ability to recognize when they are having stressful thoughts, disengaging from them, and focussing on positive thoughts, will reduce their stress
- forms of CBT such as stress inoculation training (Meichenbaum, 1985)
- social support groups/networks
- mindfulness-based stress reduction strategies.
Evaluation of the strategies may include, but is not limited to:
- research supporting or refuting the effectiveness of these strategies
- an evaluation of the strategies by presenting possible methodological, ethical or cultural considerations of the research referenced relating to the coping strategy
- a comparison and/or contrast of the two strategies.
Candidates may also address ineffective or unhealthy coping strategies, such as:
- drug taking
- alcohol abuse
- smoking
- over-eating
- use of defence mechanisms.
If a candidate evaluates only one strategy, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [5 marks] for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension, up to a maximum of [4 marks] for criterion B, critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2 marks] for criterion C, organization.
If a candidate evaluates more than two strategies, credit should be given only to the first two evaluations. However, candidates may address other strategies and be awarded marks for this as long as these strategies are clearly used to evaluate the main strategies addressed in the response.
If a candidate discusses only strengths or only limitations, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [5 marks] for criterion B, critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2 marks] for criterion C, organization. Up to full marks may be awarded for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension.