Human Behavior – Social Environment II, Winter 2025 Resiliency
Study Notes
Human Behavior – Social Environment II, Winter 2025
Topic: Resiliency
1. Introduction
Resiliency Defined: The capacity of individuals, families, and communities to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity, stress, or trauma.
Relevance to Human Behavior: Resiliency explains how people cope with challenges across the lifespan and within diverse social environments.
Social Work Perspective: Understanding resiliency helps practitioners design interventions that empower clients, strengthen protective factors, and promote well‑being.
Key Idea: Resiliency is not simply innate; it can be cultivated through supportive relationships, skills, and environments.
2. Core Characteristics of Resiliency
Adaptability: Ability to adjust to changing circumstances.
Persistence: Continuing efforts despite setbacks.
Optimism: Maintaining hope and positive outlook.
Self‑Efficacy: Belief in one’s ability to influence outcomes.
Emotional Regulation: Managing stress and emotions effectively.
Problem‑Solving Skills: Identifying solutions and taking action.
Social Connectedness: Building supportive relationships and networks.
3. Theoretical Perspectives
Ecological Systems Theory (Bronfenbrenner): Resiliency shaped by interactions across micro, meso, exo, and macro systems.
Strengths Perspective: Focuses on assets and capacities rather than deficits.
Life Course Perspective: Resiliency develops across stages of life, influenced by cumulative experiences.
Trauma‑Informed Approach: Recognizes impact of trauma and emphasizes safety, empowerment, and healing.
Positive Psychology: Highlights optimism, gratitude, and strengths as pathways to resilience.
4. Protective Factors
Individual Factors: Self‑esteem, coping skills, intelligence, health.
Family Factors: Supportive parenting, stable home environment, positive role models.
Community Factors: Access to education, healthcare, safe neighborhoods.
Cultural Factors: Traditions, values, spirituality, collective identity.
Institutional Factors: Policies and programs that promote equity and inclusion.
5. Risk Factors
Individual Risks: Chronic illness, disability, poor coping skills.
Family Risks: Abuse, neglect, poverty, parental substance abuse.
Community Risks: Violence, discrimination, lack of resources.
Societal Risks: Systemic inequities, unemployment, political instability.
Outcome: Resiliency emerges when protective factors outweigh or mitigate risk factors.
6. Resiliency Across the Lifespan
Childhood: Developing attachment, learning coping skills, building self‑esteem.
Adolescence: Identity formation, peer relationships, navigating risk behaviors.
Young Adulthood: Career development, intimate relationships, independence.
Middle Adulthood: Balancing work, family, caregiving, adapting to change.
Older Adulthood: Coping with aging, health challenges, maintaining purpose and social ties.
7. Cultural Dimensions of Resiliency
Collectivist Cultures: Emphasize community support, family ties, and shared responsibility.
Individualist Cultures: Focus on personal agency, independence, and self‑efficacy.
Indigenous Perspectives: Highlight spirituality, connection to land, and intergenerational wisdom.
Global Context: Resiliency shaped by migration, globalization, and cultural adaptation.
8. Building Resiliency
Personal Strategies: Mindfulness, stress management, goal setting.
Family Strategies: Positive communication, supportive parenting, shared activities.
Community Strategies: Mentorship programs, safe spaces, access to resources.
Policy Strategies: Social safety nets, equitable education, healthcare access.
Professional Strategies: Trauma‑informed care, empowerment models, strengths‑based interventions.
9. Case Example
Scenario: A teenager experiencing parental divorce and academic stress.
Risk Factors: Family disruption, emotional distress.
Protective Factors: Supportive teacher, peer friendships, counseling services.
Outcome: With support, the teenager develops coping skills, maintains academic performance, and builds resilience.
10. Resiliency in Communities
Community Resilience: Ability of groups to recover from disasters, violence, or systemic inequities.
Examples:
Communities rebuilding after natural disasters.
Social movements advocating for justice.
Neighborhoods creating mutual aid networks.
Key Elements: Collective identity, leadership, resource mobilization, solidarity.
11. Contemporary Issues
COVID‑19 Pandemic: Highlighted importance of resilience in health, education, and social systems.
Climate Change: Communities adapting to environmental challenges.
Economic Inequality: Resilience strategies for marginalized populations.
Digital Age: Technology as both a risk (cyberbullying) and protective factor (online support).
Global Migration: Resiliency in adapting to new cultures and environments.
12. Ethical and Cultural Considerations
Equity: Ensure resilience strategies are accessible to all.
Respect: Honor cultural traditions in resilience building.
Justice: Address systemic barriers that undermine resilience.
Empowerment: Promote agency and participation in decision‑making.
Cultural Competence: Adapt interventions to diverse populations.
13. Implications for Social Work Practice
Assessment: Identify risk and protective factors in clients’ lives.
Intervention: Strengthen coping skills, support systems, and empowerment.
Advocacy: Promote policies that reduce risks and enhance protective factors.
Prevention: Implement programs that build resilience before crises occur.
Evaluation: Measure outcomes to ensure effectiveness of resilience‑based interventions.
14. Strategies for Practitioners
Strengths‑Based Approach: Focus on assets rather than deficits.
Trauma‑Informed Care: Recognize trauma and promote healing.
Cultural Competence: Adapt strategies to diverse contexts.
Collaboration: Work with families, communities, and institutions.
Self‑Care: Practitioners must build their own resilience to support clients effectively.
15. Conclusion
Resiliency is a dynamic process shaped by individual, family, community, and societal factors.
It involves balancing risk and protective factors across the lifespan.
Cultural, ethical, and systemic considerations are central to resilience building.
Social workers play a critical role in fostering resilience through assessment, intervention, advocacy, and empowerment.
Ultimately, resiliency strengthens individuals and communities, promoting well‑being and social justice in the face of adversity.
Quiz (15 Questions)
Multiple Choice
Which theory emphasizes interactions across systems in shaping resiliency? a) Strengths Perspective b) Ecological Systems Theory c) Life Course Perspective d) Positive Psychology
Which psychosocial task is central to young adulthood resilience? a) Identity formation b) Generativity c) Integrity d) Autonomy
Which factor is considered a protective element of resiliency? a) Poverty b) Supportive parenting c) Violence d) Discrimination
Which cultural perspective emphasizes spirituality and intergenerational wisdom? a) Individualist b) Collectivist c) Indigenous d) Global
Which strategy is part of trauma‑informed care? a) Ignoring trauma b) Promoting healing and empowerment c) Minimizing client agency d) Reinforcing systemic barriers
True/False
Resiliency is solely an innate trait and cannot be cultivated. (False)
Emotional regulation is a core characteristic of resiliency. (True)
Communities can demonstrate resilience after disasters or systemic inequities. (True)
Cultural competence is irrelevant in resilience interventions. (False)
The COVID‑19 pandemic highlighted the importance of resilience. (True)
Short Answer
Define resiliency in the context of human behavior.
Provide one example of a risk factor and one protective factor.
Identify two strategies for building resiliency in families.
Describe one way communities demonstrate resilience.
How can social workers integrate resiliency into practice?
Human Behavior -Soc Env II-Winter 2025
Resiliency
Perhaps you have observed a friend or family member after a tragedy and thought, “I’m not sure how they are managing” or “I wouldn’t be able to function.” Why do some individuals, despite overwhelming hardship, have the capacity to adapt and “bounce back,” whereas others, faced with similar circumstances, do not? The answer is resiliency, also referred to as resilience. Social workers help clients strengthen their resiliency as a protective factor against change and adversity across the life span.
Talia Johnson, whom you met briefly in HBSE I, is a young adult who has experienced a sexual assault. How might the concept of resiliency apply to her? For this Discussion, you explore resiliency and integrate it in social work practice using Talia’s case. As you progress through the course, continue to consider resiliency’s role in well-being across the life span.
To Prepare:
Review the Learning Resources on resiliency.
Access the Social Work Case Studies media and navigate to Talia.
As you explore Talia’s case, imagine that you are her social worker, and consider how you might apply the concept of resiliency to her case. Also think about how you might apply the concept to social work practice in general.
BY DAY 4
Post a Discussion that includes the following:
An explanation of how you, as Talia’s social worker, might apply the concept of resiliency to Talia and her situation
Examples from Talia’s case and the resources to support your strategy
An explanation of how you might apply the concept of resiliency more generally to social work practice
Please write out the sub headings)
Support your post with examples from the course text and any other resources used to respond to this Discussion. Demonstrate that you have completed the required readings, understand the material, and are able to apply the concepts. Include a full reference of resources at the bottom of the post.
Course book
Empowerment Series: Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment 11TH 19
Author: Zastrow, Charles
ISBN-13: 978-1-337-55647-7
ISBN-10: 1-337-55647-5
Edition/Copyright: 11TH 19
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Resources
Required Readings
Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K. & Hessenauer, S. L. (2019). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.
oReview Chapters 1–9.
Dye, H. (2018). The impact and long-term effects of childhood trauma.Links to an external site. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment , 28 (3), 381–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2018.1435328
Harvard University Center on the Developing Child.Links to an external site. (n.d.). Key concepts: Resilience . https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/resilience
Kte’pi, B. (2020). Resilience (psychology).Links to an external site. In Salem Press encyclopedia . Salem Press.
Media
Walden University, LLC. (2021). Social work case studies Links to an external site. [Interactive media]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com/
oNavigate to Talia.
Optional Resources
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