When using psychological strategies to cope with stressors to decrease anxiety, a person is using what?

The correct choice is defense mechanisms. These are unconscious psychological strategies that individuals employ to manage anxiety and stress. Defense mechanisms operate automatically and involve various tactics, such as denial, projection, rationalization, and repression, which serve to protect the person from experiencing uncomfortable feelings or thoughts. By utilizing these mechanisms, individuals may navigate through stressors without being fully aware of the impact these coping strategies have on their emotions.

While coping strategies refer to the conscious methods individuals adopt to face stressors, defense mechanisms are typically more automatic and subconscious. Mindfulness techniques represent a distinct practice involving awareness and acceptance of the present moment, and therapeutic interventions generally encompass a broader range of structured approaches to treating psychological issues rather than specific coping strategies alone. This clarification helps to highlight why defense mechanisms uniquely address the unconscious processes in managing anxiety.