An Asian counselor says to an African-American client, 'If you're unhappy with the system, get out there and rebel. You can change the system.' This is the ______ viewpoint for coping with the environment.

• A. Alloplastic viewpoint
• B. Etic viewpoint
• C. Emic viewpoint
• D. Autoplastic viewpoint

Answer: (A)

Alloplastic coping focuses on changing the external environment to reduce stress or achieve goals. The counselor’s message to rebel and change the system is a direct call to modify the outside world, not to adjust internal thoughts or feelings. That external, environmental alteration is the hallmark of an alloplastic approach. In contrast, autoplastic coping would involve altering oneself—attitudes, behaviors, or internal responses—without trying to change the system. Emic and Etic refer to insider versus outsider cultural perspectives, not the method of coping with the environment. So this example clearly illustrates an alloplastic viewpoint.