A Cognitive Model of Psychological Resilience

Abstract

Resilience is considered to be the process by which individuals demonstrate more positive outcomes than would be expected, given the nature of the adversity experienced. We propose that a cognitive approach has the potential to guide studies investigating the relationships between adversity, stress, and resilience. We outline a preliminary cognitive model of resilience in order to facilitate the application of cognitive approaches to the investigation of resilience in the face of adversity. We argue that the situationally appropriate application of flexibility or rigidity in affective-cognitive systems is a key element in promoting resilient responses. We propose that this mapping of cognitive processing can be conceptualised as being undertaken by an overarching mapping system, which serves to integrate information from a variety of sources, including the current situation, prior experience, as well as more conscious and goal-driven processes. We propose that a well-functioning mapping system is an integral part of the cognitive basis for resilience to adversity. Our preliminary model is intended to provide an initial theoretical framework to guide research on the development of cognitive functions that are considered to be important in the resilience process.

Neurocognitive Mechanism of Human Resilience: A Conceptual Framework and Empirical Review

“…The theories relevant to an adverse event include one's life and cognitive-based appraisal of the emotional encounter, and the linking of cognitive control and emotional regulation in cognitive appraisal. Recently, theoretical models [30,31] using a simple mathematical expression were proposed [31] to describe the important role of cognitive appraisal in explaining the mechanism of resilience; however, these expressions often lack evidence to support the neurocognitive findings underlying their elucidation. Some promising theories in the fields of cognitive and computational neuroscience have shown alternative insights.…”

“…Thus, the connection between the microscopic scale (single-neuron activity) and macroscopic behavior (emergent behavior of the collective dynamics) and vice versa is key to understanding the brain in its complexity. While many conceptual models for explaining resilience have been proposed [29,30,72], none of them have connected findings from brain-imaging studies and synthesis with theories and concepts from cognitive neuroscience in order to explain how disrupted brain networks and cognitive dissonance lead to maladaptive behavioral outcomes. In this section, we discuss the neurocognitive perspective of the role of the frontal network in relation to human resilience (see Figure 2).…”

Mediating role of cognitive biases, resilience and depressive symptoms in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychotic‐like experiences in young adults

“…Resilience defined as a personal quality that enables a person to flourish when faced with adversity (Connor & Davidson, 2003) is a set of cognitive appraisals regarding self-efficacy, sense of agency, perseverance, self-esteem and adaptation skills. As a cognitive construct, it can be prone to cognitive distortions and deviation from rationality in judgement (Parsons, Kruijt, & Fox, 2016). Moreover, it is also related to, but not identical with a positive self-schema (Keyfitz, Lumley, Hennig, & Dozois, 2013), so it can be presumed that its low levels would correspond to a negative self-schema that is associated with depression (Evans, Heron, Lewis, Araya, & Wolke, 2005;Hjemdal, Vogel, Solem, Hagen, & Stiles, 2011) and paranoia (Fisher et al, 2012).…”

Emotional information-processing correlates of mental health in adolescence: A network analysis approach

“…While information-processing approaches have been widely used to investigate the cognitive mechanisms of emotion dysfunction (for reviews, Gotlib & Joormann, 2010;Lau & Waters, 2017;Mathews & MacLeod, 2005;Yiend, 2010) relatively little research has examined the role of selective information-processing in positive mental health in adults (Carl, Soskin, Kerns, & Barlow, 2013;Parsons, Kruijt, & Fox, 2016) and even less in adolescents. Positive mental health and mental illness are considered to represent two distinct, albeit inversely correlated, continua (Keyes, 2002(Keyes, , 2005.…”