coping strategy

coping strategy (plural coping strategies)

1. (psychology) A conscious, subconscious or unconscious thought process or behavior that a person habitually employs in order to cope with a particular type of situation.

   Synonym: coping mechanism

The term does not necessarily imply that a given coping strategy is healthy, successful or reasonable, and may be used to imply one way or the other depending on context; neither is it limited to strategies developed as a result of therapy or conscious effort.