Under stress, which coping pattern describes seeking social support and bonding with others?

• A. Fight or Flight
• B. Flight and Freeze
• C. Care and Share
• D. Tend and Befriend

Answer: (D)

Tend-and-befriend describes turning toward others when stressed, seeking social support and bonding to cope with the threat. This pattern emphasizes caring for others and building social connections as a way to reduce danger and mobilize resources, often linked to the role of social bonding hormones like oxytocin. It contrasts with fight-or-flight, which is about activating the body to confront or escape danger, and with flight and freeze, which involve avoidance or immobility. Because the coping pattern in which people reach out for support and form connections fits the description of tending to others and forming bonds, it’s the best match for this scenario.