List the different coping mechanism (ways of dealing with difficulties) ender shows. For each one describe whether the overall result of each is helpful or harmful to ender.

Ender has the self discipline to walk away from conflict that has little meaning. Bonzo, for example, pushes Ender many times. Finally when Ender sees that violence is now expected from the higher ups, and he has been pushed past his breaking point, Ender not only defends himself but makes a statement as well. Disarming and inadvertently killing Bonzo was the coping mechanisms that Graff and the others were looking for. This would help Ender achieve the top position in the long run.

A coping mechanism that Ender shows is that Ender does what he loves best, which in this case is probably the “Giant’s” Game. This probably helps him to ignore Bernard and his friends, which is another coping mechanism that Ender shows. I think that the overall result of that coping mechanism is more harmful than helpful. I don’t think that staring at a screen for that long of a time is very healthy for a kid’s eyes, especially when you are only six years old. If Ender continues staring at screens for that amount of time, sooner or later, he may turn up blind. Another harmful thing about that game is that the game can actually cause more stress which is also not healthy for your body. The second coping mechanism that Ender shows is ignoring something that is nagging him. For example, Ender often ignores Bernard whenever he teases Ender by calling him a name, or writing mean messages on his desk and sending to Ender. I think the overall effect is both harmful and helpful to Ender. It is helpful in the way Ender is able to show that he doesn’t care that Bernard is doing all these mean stuff to Ender and eventually, Bernard might get bored and stop bullying him. On the other hand, if Ender ignores Bernard, he might get irritated and start bullying Ender than he already has. One last coping mechanism that Ender shows is facing the bully or whatever is bothering him. Take Stilson for example, he was bullying Ender and Ender just went up to him and defended himself. Even though he killed Stilson, those bullies didn’t bother him again. The overall effect is more helpful than harmful because after he went up to those bullies, they didn’t bully him again, which was what he had wanted in the first place.