Solving personal problems: what attitudes are involved in it?

The connotation that in a natural and predominant way is usually given to the concept of "problem" tends to present an adverse aspect.

And it is precisely this fact that in a very significant way negatively interferes with the probability of adopting a form. effective coping when a life situation arises that requires a specific type of management and effort for its overcoming.

A) Yes, Before thinking about how to deal with a problem, it is necessary to analyze in detail the attitude that the person presents before the existence of these, as well as the ability to cope with such circumstance.

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D’Zurilla and Golfried's Problem Solving Model

D’Zurilla and Goldfried are the authors who in the seventies proposed a first model of Problem Solving (1971), which has been used extensively in the area of ​​cognitive-behavioral psychological intervention in the social, interpersonal and clinical fields.

Specifically, the Problem Solving technique consists of the application of a set of non-linear phases that guide in a rational way and realistic the decision-making process of the individual and that mainly affects the cognitive element within the triple system response of the individual: cognitive (thoughts and beliefs), autonomous (physiological and organic effects) and motor (behavioral action).

This procedure allows to promote the generation of a greater variety of alternative solutions using a scientific methodology and thus also being able to choose the best option among all of them.

As initially noted, it seems that eThere are two different factors when dealing with a problem effectively: one is related to the attitude of the person and the other to the systematic application of the steps described in the phases of the theoretical model. Thus, what is indicated by D’Zurilla, Nezu and Maydeu-Olivares (1996) contemplates that the results obtained with the technique require that both factors work in a combined way, since considering one without the other can lead to poor results. effective.

The first attitudinal aspect is developed in the application of the first of the five phases of the model: orientation towards the problem. Subsequently, the following four phases refer to the application of the scientific model itself: formulation and definition of the problem, generation of alternatives, evaluation of alternatives and decision-making and, finally, implementation of the decision taken and verification of the results.

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Types of personal coping

What is contributed by Bados (2014) in this area of ​​knowledge suggests that there are two kinds of personal coping: one called experiential and the other rational. The first case is a type of automatic action and supported by emotional and intuitive content, while the The second operates in the opposite way: it is conscious, analytical, requires effort, and is based on more objectives.

The author points out as relevant what was highlighted by D’Zurilla and Maydeu-Olivares (1995) about the fact that the rational system is not intended to replace the experiential but to regulate, preventing the individual from executing automated and impulsive decisions from the latter.

More often, people tend to prefer an experiential coping style due to the saving of time and energy that it supposes, although this sometimes entails a insufficient assessment of the problem situation and how to proceed to cope with it in a way efficient. In addition, it is based on a subjective and motivational component that can cause the development of an avoidance or flight attitude when exercising active coping with problems.

For that reason, the second option may be more expensive but safer in the medium or long term for the individual, especially when it comes to more momentous and relevant decisions.

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Attitudinal factors in the Problem Orientation phase

As noted above, below are five elements to consider in the attitude of orientation to the problem that the person presents and that will determine the type of coping exercised before this.

1. Perception of the problem

One of the main elements to analyze is whether the person tends to acknowledge or minimize or deny the existence of a problem.

Although at first this last option has rather pleasant consequences because it generates a certain relief to priori, in the medium and long term, it tends to lead to significant discomfort, since the problem continues to exist and may be getting worse.

Another aspect that also influences the perception of the problem is related to mistakenly confuse the discomfort generated by not coping with the original problem, when most likely this is independent of that.

2. Attribution of the problem

The cause to which the problematic situation is attributed becomes another of the essential variables to be analyzed, since if a biased or distorted reasoning of such circumstances is carried out, the person can associate the problem with a single factor without considering others that may have also influenced, as well as an excess of self-attribution (blaming the cause exclusively on the person himself) or finally, attributing the situation to unchangeable and stable factors rather than to aspects that can be changed and about which one can influence.

3. Assessment of the problem

The conceptual definition that the subject tends to make about problems in general is another aspect to be addressed.

A) Yes, problems can be understood as a threat or also as a challenge. In the first case, the adverse is defined as a potentially dangerous situation, which can lead to a greater likelihood of developing emotional distress such as anxiety, worry, stress, and avoidance.

However, in the second case a more adaptive attitude is chosen where the problem is described as a process that allows for personal learning or enrichment. In this second case, it is understood that it is more functional to try to solve a problem even if the outcome is not entirely satisfactory than not to have tried to solve it.

4. Personal control

Personal control It involves analyzing both the probability that the person values ​​a problem and a situation that can be solved with their actions, having this same power of control over the situation.

Obviously, a higher proportion of these cognitions facilitates the possibility of effective coping with the problem, while a low probability of personal control is related to avoidance and denial behaviors of the trouble.

5. Commitment of time and effort

The willingness of the person to be actively involved in terms of effort and time invested to solve the problem is the fifth factor that determines the probability of coping efficient. As in the previous case, if these conditions occur at a low level, the individual is more likely to tend to omit adequate and functional coping actions.

In conclusion

In the preceding lines a set of personal attitudinal variables that significantly influence when coping with potential vital problems in a functional and adaptive way and that are linked to the perception and assessment that the person makes about the existence of problems in general.

The understanding of these as natural phenomena, understanding them as challenges and not as threats, the realization of a rational and logical reasoning about the causes that provoke them, as well as the consideration of a sufficient capacity for personal control over them are fundamental elements that help to adopt greater competence when solving certain Circumstances that can be problematic for the individual, preventing them from worsening or becoming chronic as a result of more passive actions and certain type of cognitions. dysfunctional.

Reference bibliography:

• Bados, A. and García Grau, E. (2014). Problem resolution. Electronic publication. Teaching Materials and Objects Collection (OMADO). http://hdl.handle.net/2445/54764.
• Olivares, J. And Méndez, F. X. (2008). Behavior Modification Techniques. Madrid: New Library.
• Rosique Sanz, M.T. (2019) Advances in psychological intervention techniques (2nd edition). Madrid: CEF Editions.