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George A. Bonanno′s Adult Resilience Model

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Introduction

During an individual's lifespan, most people are subjected to at least one and even many

potentially traumatic events (PTEs) (Long, 2018). These occurrences can be upsetting, troubling,

and even disabling at times (Kalisch et al., 2017). However, not everyone responds in the same

manner. Some individuals feel overloaded, while others suffer for months before eventually

recovering (Kalisch et al., 2017). Moreover, others tend to act normally even shortly after the

incident and seem resilient.

Definition of Resilience

According to Kalisch et al. (2017), Bonanno et al. (2015) suggested a method for

identifying recurrent patterns in persons' resilience. In the form of this structure, psychological

stability is seen as a mechanism that takes time to develop. The framework includes the

following elements:

Unfavorable Circumstances

According to Long (2018), psychological resilience must be linked to a real-world

occurrence or sequence of incidents, and three main characteristics may differentiate undesired

situations:

Acute and Chronic Events. The severity and period of effects vary between acute and

chronic cases. The acute circumstance is described as a comparatively discrete occurrence,

necessitates and leads to the lack of resources, and has a short-term effect (McGriffin, 2020). On

the other hand, chronic adversity refers to an experience that has a recurring and continuous

effect on wealth and adaptation over a long time.

Proximal and Distal Exposure. According to McGiffin (2019), proximal exposure

refers to the incidents and effects that occur during the approximate time of crisis, such as the
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mortality of others as the incident progresses. On the other hand, distal exposure relates to the

incidents and effects that occur as a result of adversity, such as prolonged injury.

Baseline Adjustment. It applies to an individual's pre-existing transition long before the

advent of adverse events (Galatzer et al., 2018). In general, resilience means a prior degree of

psychological adaptation against which the reaction to distress is compared.

Outcomes of Resilience

The functioning of people, households, or societies in the wake of adversity is referred to

as resilient outcomes (Maitlis, 2020). It is defined by a medical approach that is based on the

premise that diagnostic approaches representing the prevalence or absence of psychopathology

highlight key potential reactions to distress. Furthermore, the average-level technique, which

uses average-level evidence on psychological change to investigate variations in the average

reaction in a population of exposed people and a reference group, could be used.

The Trajectory Approach

It tackles the shortcomings of the diagnostic and average-level interventions by defining

psychological change trajectories (McGiffin, 2020). As a result, the trajectory method models the

variability of PTE reactions throughout the period. It entails the following:

Emergent Resilience

It is distinguished by the ability to weather challenges in adulthood, as shown by the

ability to meet typical major outcomes and achieve psychological wellbeing in the wake of PTEs

(McGiffin, 2020).
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Minimal-Impact Resilience

It is distinguished by a sequence of mild, intermittent emotional distress that persists both

before and after the PTEs (Kalisch et al., 2017). It usually manifests itself immediately after such

an extreme undesired occurrence.

Predictors of Outcomes of Resilience

Personality

Personal characteristics such as self-esteem and a strong sense of self have also been

linked to resilience. Furthermore, emotional habits have been linked to social change and coping

in the face of persistent adversity (Long, 2018). In conjunction with the multifaceted existence of

resilient results, we propose that personality is better viewed as one of several threat and

resilience variables that can lead to the path and eventually result of an individual's transition

after PTEs.

Demographic Variation

Male gender, older age, and higher education have all been linked to positive results in

the wake of a PTE (Kalisch et al., 2017). Nevertheless, due to a lack of documentation, evidence

for the forecasting usefulness of racial and ethnic groups remains minimal.

Social and Economic Resources

There are several types of social resources, namely psychological, functional, and

informative assistance. According to McGiffin (2020), the provision of family support and the

perceived efficiency of the assistance are correlated with better change after PTEs. However, a

study that has specifically analyzed resilient result trajectories has not been connected to

financial factors.
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Proximal and Distal Exposure

McGiffin found that PTE exposure has a significant dose-response influence on transition

(2020). Greater exposure is commonly correlated with slower psychological adjustment, while

decreased exposure is connected with robust results. However, exposure is just one of several

combined danger and resistance variables. Current research suggests that even though the

exposure is severe, psychological wellbeing is likely to be prominent.

Past and Present Stress

According to Long (2018), previous exposure to abuse and the prevalence of real-life

stress increases the chance of PTSD and lowers the likelihood of resilient results following

PTEs. Interestingly, prior knowledge with related experiences predicts a greater transition for

future exposures for certain forms of PTEs, possibly since previous knowledge lets an individual

plan for and appreciate the upcoming timeline of activities (Kalisch et al., 2017).

Positive Emotion

Positive feelings have a host of adaptive advantages (Kalisch et al., 2017). While positive

feelings are important in daily life, the relationship between positive feelings and change seems

to be particularly strong in the sense of aversive circumstances.

Conclusion

People persevere in the face of adversity, even when the odds are stacked against them.

The key features of the reliance model have been vividly elaborated: baseline, PTEs, post-PTEs

resilient outcomes, and predictors of resilient outcomes.

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