Foundations of Resiliency

Question 1

What is the family resilience approach?

Answer 1

A family resilience approach aims to identify and fortify key interactional processes that enable families to withstand and rebound from disruptive life challenges.

Question 2

Define resilience. What characteristics does it envelop?

Answer 2

Resilience can be defined as the capacity to rebound from adversity strengthened and more resourceful. According to the article, “it is an active process of endurance, self-righting, and growth in response to crisis and challenge.”

Question 3

What is the author’s take on how resiliency can get misunderstood?

Answer 3

According to the author, we confuse invulnerability with resilience. We equate human vulnerability with weakness and invulnerability with strength.

Question 4

Is a higher intelligence essential in order to be resilient?

Answer 4

No, it is not essential.

Question 5

Describe Seligman’s Learned Optimism.

Answer 5

He found that optimism can be learned through experiences of mastery, as individuals come to believe that their efforts can yield success.

Question 6

According to the authors, do early life experiences determine future resiliency?

Answer 6

No, Werner and Smith found that nothing is “cast in stone” because of early life experiences.