Social Coping in Everyday Life and in Crisis Situations: An Evolutionary Psychology Perspective

An online questionnaire-based survey investigated which action heuristics are activated for social coping in everyday life and in biologically relevant crisis situations. A total of 187 participants (86% women, mean age 35) from all parts of German-speaking Europe provided information about how they would cope in social conflict situations. In everyday life situations, participants reported more functional coping when dealing with youths than when dealing with adults. Coping strategies were most dysfunctional when dealing with one’s partner. Conversely, social coping strategies in biologically significant crisis situations were more functional within the nuclear family than with outsiders. The results are discussed against the background of display rules for social coping and the theory of inclusive fitness.