Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Embracing Responsibility

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or a learned go-to strategy, a mechanism helps them cope with the stress of the moment or escape the hurt of it.

But if the character develops an unhealthy reliance on that mechanism, problems will arise. Long-term, certain coping behaviors will impair their connections with others, their ability to achieve goals and dreams, and their ability to handle life’s pressures.

At some point, they must have an Aha! moment where they realize their coping method is holding them back and seek other ways to deal with stress. Namely, they’ll have to adopt healthier mechanisms that enable them to manage difficulties and ultimately have a happier future.

To help you write your character’s growth (or regression) journey, we’ve created The Coping Mechanism Thesaurus, which contains a range of coping mechanisms. The one we’re highlighting today can help your character better manage painful emotions and stress. Use this partial entry to show readers the character is choosing more productive strategies that will build resilience.

Embracing Responsibility

Definition

Embracing responsibility is all about accepting obligations and following through, even when it feels uncomfortable.

What It May Look Like

Prioritizing what’s most important
Choosing needs over wants
Following through on commitments
Being proactive and planning ahead
Not making promises they can’t keep

Internal Struggles

Wanting to take responsibility but doubting their ability to succeed
Fearing they’ll only make a mess of things
Trying to stay personally accountable when others are not doing the same
Striving to do better but struggling to regulate emotions
Not wanting to fall into the trap of overcommitting, but also wanting to please or impress others

Challenges That Will Test the Character

An unforeseen factor forcing them to default on an obligation or responsibility
Having to take a medication that increases impulsivity and decreases focus
Being measured against unreasonable or unfair expectations
Being sabotaged by someone who wants the character to fail
Being blamed for something that isn’t the character’s fault

Basic Human Needs It Could Fill

Esteem and Recognition: Taking ownership of their obligations will not only lift the character in the eyes of others but will also build up self-worth.
Love and Connection: Becoming more responsible will show others that they’re dependable and committed, which can help resolve friction and strengthen relationships.

Need More Descriptive Help?

While this thesaurus is still being developed and expanded, the rest of our descriptive collection (18 unique thesauri and growing) is accessible through the One Stop for Writers THESAURUS database.

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