Resilient functioning is the attainment of unexpected competence despite significant adversity. Resilience involves thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that produce a positive outcome after a significant threat to personal integrity or the health and well-being of friends, family, or country. Resilience is anticipating a positive outcome rather than accepting a fatalistic endgame. This entry reviews psychodynamic and psychopharmacological models.

Psychodynamic Model

Resilience is the ability to adapt physiologically and psychologically to environmental changes. It is a survival skill required of every member of the animal kingdom. In humans, it is often manifested as the difference between individuals' conceptualizing themselves as survivors versus conceptualizing themselves as victims—that is, the difference between individuals who can take care of themselves and others versus those who become unable to care for themselves ...

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