Citation

Shaw J, McLean KC, Taylor B, Swartout K, Querna K. Psychol. Violence 2016; 6(1): 34-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/vio0000020

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Stories of resilience abound in American culture, and many social scientists have dedicated their programs of research to understanding what engenders resilience and developing interventions to promote it. However, too often our discussions on resilience limit it to something within the individual, effectively placing all responsibility for overcoming adversity on that individual. In this commentary, we caution against designing resilience research that fails to attend to system-level variables and how this approach can inadvertently reinforce the social circumstances it intends to help individuals overcome.

Key Takeaways: The construct of resilience is multifaceted and multilevel, yet the majority of resilience research in the field of psychology operates at the individual-level of analysis. Several theories, approaches, and methods can aid resilience researchers in becoming more ecological.

CONCLUSION: Through a renewed commitment to multiplicity in our research, we can better meet the needs of our communities and promote success.

Language: en