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Lesson 1: Introduction to Normal and Abnormal Behavior in Children and Adolescents
Risk and Resilience
Eddie grew up in the inner-city of Chicago, raised by a single mother who worked two jobs that still couldn’t make ends meet. His father went to prison when Eddie was 8 years old, ending a long history of abuse. Eddie was bullied in elementary school, but began to find acceptance during his adolescence with a group of friends who regularly found themselves in trouble with the police. After barely completing high school, Eddie went to work at an auto repair shop where he found a mentor in a man named Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan saw promise in Eddie’s abilities and encouraged him to pursue specialized training in automotive repair. Today, Eddie owns a successful auto repair shop, is married, and has two young boys.
Why do some children who have been maltreated (or exposed to other adverse events) go on to experience psychological problems and other troubles while others seem to succeed without these setbacks? Though the answer is not straightforward, research examining risk and protective factors can help answer this question. Risk factors are variables that precede a negative outcome and increase the chances that the outcome will occur. Some examples of risk factors include high levels of family conflict, peer rejection, and prenatal complications. On the other hand, protective factors are personal or situational variables that reduce the chances of a child developing a psychological disorder. Examples include good problem solving skills, supportive family relationships, and high achievement motivation. Risk and protective factors can be related to characteristics of the child, his/her family, and the community.
The term resilience is frequently used to describe why Eddie, from our example above, overcame adversity, while others in very similar circumstances might not. Resilience can be defined by a relatively positive outcome in the face of significant adversity or traumatic experiences (Luthar, 2006). It is important to understand that resilience is not a universal characteristic that is applicable to all situations. Rather, interactions between risk and protective factors as well as the circumstances of a situation likely explain differences in resilience across time, situations, and individuals.