The Australian Community Psychologist - APS Member Groups

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Psychologists’ definitions of resilience 22 the School of Psychology and Social Science at Edith Cowan University. She is involved in teaching in both the undergraduate and postgraduate psychology programs in Australia and internationally. Her principal area of research is in the area of resilience. Currently she is one of the founding members of the Lifespan Research Resilience Research Group (LRRG) at ECU. Her involvement in resilience research includes projects on children within education systems, family resilience and the link between wellbeing and resilience in adults. Dr Catherine Ferguson is a researcher with varied interests in resilience in different groups, in particular in relation to the wellbeing of small business owners. She has been involved in a range of project with other members of the Lifespan Resilience Research Group since joining Edith Cowan University in April 2009. Mr Craig Harms is a PhD student in the School of Psychology and Social Science at Edith Cowan University. Craig works as an associate lecturer in the School of Psychology and Social Science at Edith Cowan University; as a Clinical Psychologist (Registrar); and as a Sport Psychology Consultant. His research and practice interests include factors impacting on and the psychological consequences of personal achievement (academic and sporting); resilience; measurement, predictors, consequences and treatment of psychological distress and the psychological aspects of health and exercise. Address for correspondence Professor Lynne Cohen School of Psychology and Social Science Edith Cowan University 270 Joondalup Dve Joondalup 6027 Tel: +61 8 63045575 Fax: +61 8 6304 5827 The Australian Community Psychologist Volume 23 No 2 August 2011 © The Australian Psychological Society Ltd
23 On Cultural Resiliency Naji Abi-Hashem Clinical & Cultural Psychologist, Independent Scholar, Visiting Professor, Caregiver at Large Much has been written on resilience. This article will try to revisit the subject and emphasise its psycho-emotional and socio-cultural roots. It will explore the major themes, dimensions, and conceptualisations of resiliency from a communal, psychological, spiritual, existential, and cultural perspective. It will discuss the interplay among social norms, tradition, and religion and their implications on surviving, coping, and thriving. Also, it will ponder how to remain resilient in this globalised and fast changing 21 st century. This article will argue that, in addition to all the other factors and mediators affecting resiliency, it is virtually a function of culture, wisdom, and generational identity. Resiliency is a fascinating topic. It beautifully focuses on the bright side of the human nature. It highlights the ability to cultivate hope, even during long phases of hopelessness, and to mobilise survival even in the midst of an acute stressful situation or after an extended period of despair. Although there has been a wealth of information written on the subject of resiliency, more is needed to fully appreciate its intricate nature. There is also a need to comprehend its multi-layered roots, types and functions, roles and dynamics, sources and potentials, and to explore its detailed effects, deep impacts, and broad influences. Moreover, it is equally important to understand how resiliency is similar to, or different from, other human capabilities, traits, gifts, attributes, and faculties. Resiliency has been studied, analysed, and documented by many thinkers and observers, from various disciplines and in many contexts or psychosocial settings. However, the majority of these writings have mainly focused on the individual, familial, and environmental aspects of resilient people, who displayed rebounding ability for livelihood at several stages of their unfavourable journey. Less material is found on the cultural, communal, and national aspects of resiliency. Thus, this paper will attempt to throw an additional light on resiliency as a function of culture and to reflect on the socio-cultural mediators that shape this intriguing human virtue, in a way that is wide, deep, and more comprehensive. Therefore, to begin let us reconsider the general and basic question: What is resiliency? Is There an Adequate Definition of Resilience? Resiliency is a broad concept and a profound theme. It is not easily defined or readily described. There is no one precise explanation or single identification of resiliency. Mainly, resiliency refers to the human potential or spirit to positively and successfully face adversity, tolerate ambiguity, cope with crises, handle pressure, and recover from disaster or tragedy. It could be defined in simple terms or in highly complex terms. A simple definition of resiliency can be presented as something like: bouncing back, enduring toughness, coping nicely, hanging-in-there, surviving well, recovering adequately, exhibiting strength, weathering tribulation (without cracking), being resourceful, springing forward, and overcoming. However, the following statements represent more comprehensive and global definitions of resiliency: “Resilience refers to the capacity of an entity or system to maintain and renew itself particularly in the presence of stressors, that is, when…challenged or threatened. Resilience can be observed as a dynamic phenomena [sic] in a variety of systems” (Neill, 2006, para. 1). It is “the The Australian Community Psychologist Volume 23 No 2 August 2011 © The Australian Psychological Society Ltd
Page 1 and 2: The Australian Community Psychologi
Page 3 and 4: Contents Contents 3 General Informa
Page 5 and 6: Editorial 5 Lynne Cohen Catherine F
Page 7 and 8: 7 Psychologists’ Understandings o
Page 9 and 10: Psychologists’ definitions of res
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Page 25 and 26: Cultural resiliency 25 any degree,
Page 27 and 28: Cultural resiliency 27 cultural sel
Page 29 and 30: Cultural resiliency 29 supernatural
Page 31 and 32: Cultural resiliency 31 Resilience.
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Page 51 and 52: Same-sex parents 51 were reported t
Page 53 and 54: Same-sex parents 53 is becoming the
Page 55 and 56: Same-sex parents 55 and gay couples
Page 57 and 58: Same-sex parents 57 Table 1 Themes
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Page 61 and 62: Same-sex parents 61 Andersen, Burto
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Page 67 and 68: Same-sex parents 67 gay parents. Ch
Page 69 and 70: Negotiating Resilience 69 to guide
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Negotiating Resilience 73 Table 1 S
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Negotiating Resilience 75 Simultane
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Negotiating Resilience 77 determini
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Negotiating Resilience 79 ‘Owners
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Negotiating Resilience 81 associati
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Negotiating Resilience 83 South Afr
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85 Resilience in Western Australian
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Resilience in adolescence 87 identi
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Resilience in adolescence 89 Partic
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Resilience in adolescence 91 my emo
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Reflections on Poverty 93 relations
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Resilience in adolescence 95 being
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Resilience in adolescence 97 has hu
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Resilience in adolescence 99 critic
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Resilience in adolescence 101 Resil
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103 Resilience through the Eyes of
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Resilience and Professional Nurses
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121 The Resilience of Illegal Afric
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Migrant resilience 123 participants
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Migrant resilience 125 Step 2: Dete
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Migrant resilience 127 home is econ
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Migrant resilience 129 better than
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Migrant resilience 131 share, to ex
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Migrant resilience 133 positive psy
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135 Measurement Performance of the
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Measurement performance of the SCI
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Manuscript Preparation 149 2. The c
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The Australian Community Psychologi
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