An individual's approach to illness is affected by the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses that characterize coping style. For example, a method that directly handles the stressor and the subsequent emotional response is considered "approach-oriented." An "avoidance-oriented" style seeks to control upset by evading the stressor (Hubert et al. 1988). Patients and families may also deal with distress by taking a practical approach and focusing primarily on the problems at hand. Others struggle to maintain emotional control and cope by regulating their emotional responses (Folkman and Lazarus 1988).