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Human Resiliency
Alan L. Peterson, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, and University of Texas at San Antonio
AffiliationsUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Professor and Chief, Division of Behavioral MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine
Aaron and Bobbie Elliott Krus Endowed Chair in PsychiatryDirector, STRONG STAR Consortium
Director, Consortium to Alleviate PTSDAssociate Director of Research, Military Health Institute
South Texas Veterans Health Care SystemResearch Health Scientist
University of Texas at San AntonioProfessor, Department of Psychology
2
9-11-2001
Armed Forces Mortuary
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
The Air Force Theater Hospital
Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility
What is Resiliency?• We all know what it is• Not so easy to define• We all want it in:• Ourselves, our family members, our co-workers• Our military personnel, first responders• Our community, state, and national leaders
• How do you get it?• Are you born with it?• Do you learn it?• Can you train for it?• Can you bottle it?
What is Resiliency?• Ability to sustain physical and psychological
functioning despite extremely adverse conditions
• Ability to rebound or recover from injury or illness
• The “Blister-Callus Model of Resiliency” suggests increased resiliency results from repeated exposure and recovery from trauma or adversity
• Resiliency allows for the potential for “posttraumatic growth” after trauma exposure
Bonanno (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: Have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? Am Psychol. 2004 Jan;59(1):20-8.
Definitions of Resilience • Concept used in several disciplines • Examples of definitions:• “The power or ability to return to the original
form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.” • “Resilience is the ability of individuals to survive
and thrive despite exposure to negative circumstances.”• “Preservation and/or recovery of premorbid
functioning after exposure to a physical and psychological trauma”
Dictionary.com; Miranda et al., 2011, RAND Report; for review, see McGeary, 2011
The Blister-Callus Model of Psychological
ResiliencyPeterson, Blount, & McGeary (2014). Stress and psychological resiliency. In C. M. Pariante & M. D. Lapiz Bluhm (Eds.), Current topics in behavioral neurosciences: Vol. 18. Behavioral neurobiology of stress-related disorders (pp. 297-312). Berlin & Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag. doi:10.1007/7854_2014_293.
The Blister-Callus Model
• Based on analogy of how skin calluses occur with sustained or repeated physical activity
• Skin calluses allow individuals to perform strenuous activities for long periods of time without physical damage or injury
• Blister-Callus Model posits that psychological resilience develops from repeated and gradually increasing periods of psychological and physical stress, followed by periods of recovery
Psychological Resiliency• Blister-Callus Model• Throughout life, psychological resilience
develops from repeated and gradually increasing periods of psychological and physical stress, followed by periods of recovery• Too little/too much can cause problems• Experiencing, adapting, and recovering from
psychological and physical stress is beneficial and enhances resiliency
Extreme Resiliency Training• What military groups are often thought to be
the most resilient?• Serve in the most extreme environments• Have most physically and psychologically
rigorous training programs• Have highest washout rate during initial
training?
Extreme Resiliency Training• Special Forces• Navy SEALS• Army Rangers/Berets/Delta Force• Marine RECON• Air Force Pararescue
Extreme Resiliency Training
• What can we learn about resiliency from Special Forces training?• Extreme physical and mental fitness
= extreme resiliency?
Personal Resilience Training• Army 10-miler, Joint Base Balad, Iraq, 2004• First ½ marathon (13.1 miles) 48 years old• First marathon 2006• 50K, 50 mile, 100K, 100 mile• Lean Horse 100-mile endurance run• Extreme physical and psychological exhaustion• Similar to fog of war• DNF at mile 76!• Pressing the reset button!
Summary• Blister-Callus Model of Psychological
Resiliency is simple model with direct military operational relevance• Military has always had outstanding
resiliency training programs• What have they called the resiliency
training program?
Summary• Blister-Callus Model of Psychological
Resiliency is simple model with direct military operational relevance• Military has always had outstanding
resiliency training programs• What have they called the resiliency training
program?•MILITARY TRAINING!