Understanding Resilience: Building Strength in the Face of Adversity
Resilience
Ability to Overcome Adversity
Resilience is the remarkable ability of an individual to face and overcome adversity. It involves perseverance, tenacity, a positive attitude, and proactive actions that help navigate and ultimately triumph over challenges.
What is Resilience?
Resilience is the inherent human capacity to cope with life’s difficulties and emerge from them stronger and more capable.
Examples of Adversity
- Sexual harassment
- Experiencing mistreatment or abuse
- Family misfortune
- Allowing others to exert undue influence or control
Protective Factors: Family and Psychosocial Support
Key Factors for Building Resilience
- A warm and supportive family environment
- Presence of supportive figures or mentors
- Open and honest communication within the family
- Absence of significant family dysfunction
- Parents who encourage and stimulate growth
- Positive relationships with peers
- Clear and consistent guidelines and boundaries
Protective Factors (Kotliarenco and Dueñas 1992)
Personal Factors
Temperamental Characteristics:
- Strong verbal and mathematical IQ
- Proactive and approachable nature
- Positive sense of humor
- Stable biological development
Cognitive and Affective Characteristics:
- High levels of empathy
- Strong self-esteem
- High achievement motivation
- Well-developed sense of self
- Lower susceptibility to feelings of hopelessness
- Greater autonomy and independence
- Effective coping skills
Pillars of Resilience (Wolin and Wolin)
Insight:
The ability to honestly self-reflect and seek understanding.Independence:
Establishing healthy boundaries between oneself and external problems, maintaining emotional and physical distance without isolating oneself.Ability to Relate:
Forming meaningful connections and intimate relationships with others.Initiative:
Embracing challenges and progressively pursuing more demanding tasks.Humor:
Finding lightness and comedic relief even in difficult situations.Creativity:
Creating order and meaning from chaos and disorder.Morality:
Extending personal well-being to encompass the welfare of humanity and engaging in ethical behavior.Consistent Self-Esteem:
The foundation of resilience, nurtured by consistent care and support from significant adults during childhood and adolescence.
Actions that Promote Resilience (Edith Grotberg)
Children from 0 to 3 years
- Provide unconditional love and support.
- Promote adherence to rules and boundaries.
- Project confidence and stability.
- Praise and acknowledge progress and achievements.
- Encourage exploration and experimentation.
- Help children understand and express their feelings.
- Be mindful of the child’s temperament and individual needs.
Children from 4 to 7 years
- Provide unconditional love and support.
- Express affection verbally and physically.
- Use a calm and soothing tone of voice.
- Model resilient behaviors when facing challenges.
- Promote adherence to rules and boundaries.
- Praise accomplishments and positive behaviors.
- Encourage independent activities and self-reliance.
Children 8 to 11 years
- Provide unconditional love and support.
- Help children express their feelings openly and honestly.
- Model behaviors that reflect consistent values and rules.
- Clearly explain the rationale behind rules and expectations.
- Praise achievements and acknowledge effort.
- Encourage open communication and dialogue.
Characteristics of Resilient Children: A Model of Expression
“I HAVE”… (Support and Security)
- … people around me whom I trust.
- … people who guide me and help me avoid danger or problems.
- … people who support me in learning at my own pace.
“I AM”… (Inner Strength)
- … a person who is appreciated and loved by others.
- … respectful of myself and others.
- … happy when I do good for others and show them my affection.
“I AM”… (Responsibility and Confidence)
- … willing to take responsibility for my actions.
- … confident that things will work out.
- … comfortable expressing my needs and seeking support when needed.
“I CAN”… (Interpersonal Skills)
- … talk about things that frighten or worry me.
- … find ways to solve my problems.
- … feel and express affection openly.
Am I Resilient?
Consider these questions to assess your own resilience:
- Do I generally have an optimistic outlook?
- Do I take action towards my goals?
- Do I find meaning and purpose in life?
- Do I approach new challenges with hope and a proactive mindset?
- Do I draw upon my strengths and experiences when facing difficulties?
- Do I break down problems into manageable steps?
- Do I learn from my experiences and apply those lessons to future challenges?
The Impact of Affect and Emotional Regulation
Influence on Development
Affect, or emotional experience, plays a crucial role in shaping various aspects of development:
- Motor Development: A child’s motivation to walk might be driven by a desire for parental approval.
- Social Development: Children learn to conform to social norms, often motivated by a fear of losing parental affection.
- Cognitive Development: The desire for approval can fuel cognitive growth, while increased cognitive abilities can further strengthen the importance of social connections and affection.
- Moral Development: The foundation of moral development often stems from a desire to maintain the affection of attachment figures.
Understanding Emotions and Passions
- Passions of Self-Preservation: These are the energies that drive us to protect our physical well-being and ensure the survival of ourselves and our species.
- Passions of Self: These energies focus on protecting our psychological well-being and fostering a healthy sense of self.
- Emotions: Emotions play a vital social function, encompassing both the appropriate expression of our own emotions and the ability to understand and empathize with the emotions of others.
Parental Characteristics and Attachment Styles
Avoidant Parenting
- May punish or dismiss expressions of attachment, leading to stress in the infant.
- May struggle with emotional intimacy with the infant.
- May reinforce independent behavior prematurely.
Ambivalent Parenting
- Characterized by inconsistent parenting behaviors.
- Often referred to as “helicopter parents” due to their fluctuating levels of involvement.
- May exhibit inconsistencies between verbal and nonverbal communication.
Disorganized Parenting
- Fearful/Self-Referential Type: Parents may be aggressive, intrusive, and unable to regulate their own stress. They may have a negative perception of the child.
- Fearful/Role-Reversed Type: Parents may place excessive responsibility on the infant and struggle to fulfill their own parental role. They may exhibit disoriented and frightened behavior.
Self-Esteem and Self-Concept
Understanding Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the overall evaluation of oneself, encompassing personality, attitudes, and abilities. It forms the foundation of personal identity and can be either positive or negative. Self-esteem is closely linked to emotions and attitudes towards oneself.
Understanding Self-Concept
Self-concept is the individual’s awareness and understanding of themselves. It includes attributes, traits, and personality characteristics that the individual perceives as defining their identity. Self-concept is rooted in self-love and self-knowledge.
The Self: A Multifaceted Perspective
The self can be viewed through various lenses:
- Social Self: How we perceive ourselves in relation to others (e.g., “I am Mary’s friend.”).
- Academic Self: Our perception of our academic abilities (e.g., “I have a degree in psychology.”).
- Family Self: Our role and identity within our family (e.g., “I am an only child.”).
- Physical Self: Our perception of our physical appearance (e.g., “I am a blonde, bespectacled child.”).
Key Difference: Perception vs. Evaluation
The primary distinction between self-concept and self-esteem is that self-concept is a perception, while self-esteem is an evaluation or judgment of that perception.
Parental Influence on Self-Esteem
Parents play a significant role in shaping a child’s self-esteem through:
- Expressions of affection and love
- Genuine concern for the child’s problems and challenges
- Maintaining a harmonious and supportive home environment
- Engaging in family activities together
Peer Influence on Self-Esteem
Peers also contribute to the development of self-esteem by:
- Providing opportunities for social comparison
- Expanding social networks and relationships
Behavioral Indicators of Self-Esteem
Positive Indicators
- Taking initiative and offering guidance to others
- Speaking with a clear and confident voice
- Expressing opinions openly and respectfully
- Actively participating in social activities
- Collaborating effectively in group settings
Negative Indicators
- Putting oneself down or engaging in self-deprecating humor
- Using excessive or inappropriate gestures
- Avoiding physical contact or engaging in inappropriate physical interactions
- Over-apologizing for mistakes
- Adopting a submissive posture
- Hesitancy to express opinions, even when encouraged
Academic Self-Concept
Academic self-concept refers to a student’s perception of their own academic abilities and encompasses several dimensions:
Dimensions of Academic Self-Concept
Relationship:
The level of trust and connection a student feels towards others in the academic setting. This involves feeling identified with the school community, being friendly and spontaneous, and demonstrating tolerance for frustration and anger.Assertiveness:
The ability to express feelings honestly and respectfully, while also respecting the feelings of others. This includes expressing emotions effectively, defending one’s identity while respecting the identities of others, and expecting gratitude and appreciation from others.Commitment:
Having confidence in one’s potential and embracing originality, creativity, and risk-taking. This involves high intrinsic motivation and a strong commitment to academic tasks.Coping with School Situations:
Confidence in one’s ability to navigate academic challenges. This includes showing interest in classroom activities, finding satisfaction in the learning process itself, and effectively managing academic stressors.
Factors to Consider for Raising Self-Esteem in Adolescents
- Identify the root causes of low self-esteem and pinpoint areas of competence that are important to the individual.
- Provide emotional support and social approval through affirmation and encouragement. Consider alternative sources of support, such as teachers or mentors, if needed.
- Help adolescents achieve success and build self-efficacy, which is the belief in one’s ability to master situations and achieve positive outcomes.
- Improve coping skills, as self-esteem often increases when individuals actively address challenges rather than avoiding them.
Development Programs for Self-Esteem
Several programs have been developed to guide educators in fostering positive self-esteem in students. Two notable examples include programs by Reasoner (1990) and Haeussler and Milicic (1995).
Reasoner’s Five Key Feelings for a Positive Self-Esteem Environment
Feeling of Security and Trust:
Establish clear and realistic expectations and boundaries, and consistently apply rules and consequences.Feeling of Identity or Self-Concept:
Provide regular feedback and acknowledge individual strengths and accomplishments. Remind students of their positive qualities and value them for who they are.Sense of Belonging:
Create an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated and all individuals feel accepted and valued. Encourage acceptance and inclusion of all students within the group.Sense of Purpose:
Communicate clear expectations, foster confidence, and help students set meaningful goals.Feelings of Personal Jurisdiction:
Empower students to make decisions and choices, provide encouragement and support during task completion, and help them develop self-assessment skills.