According to the American Psychological Association, resilience is...

• A. The process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands
• B. A fixed trait.
• C. A shield against emotions.
• D. Only about physical danger coping.

Answer: (A)

Resilience is best understood as both the process and the outcome of adapting to difficult life experiences through flexible mental, emotional, and behavioral adjustment to internal and external demands. This means people actively use coping strategies, draw on support, and adjust thoughts and actions to function well despite adversity. It isn’t a fixed trait that someone either has or doesn’t have, but something that can change across situations and over time. It also isn’t a shield that stops you from feeling emotions—resilience involves experiencing emotions while effectively managing and responding to them. And it isn’t limited to coping with physical danger; it applies to a wide range of stressors, including loss, illness, job problems, and ongoing chronic stress.