Resilience beyond reductionism: ethical and social dimensions of an emerging concept in the neurosciences

Abstract

Since a number of years, popular and scientific interest in resilience is rapidly increasing. More recently, also neuroscientific research in resilience and the associated neurobiological findings is gaining more attention. Some of these neuroscientific findings might open up new measures to foster personal resilience, ranging from magnetic stimulation to pharmaceutical interventions and awareness-based techniques. Therefore, bioethics should also take a closer look at resilience and resilience research, which are today philosophically under-theorized. In this paper, we analyze different conceptualizations of resilience and argue that especially one-sided understandings of resilience which dismiss social and cultural contexts of personal resilience do pose social and ethical problems. On a social level such unbalanced views on resilience could hide and thereby stabilize structural social injustices, and on an individual level it might even lead to an aggravation of stress-related mental health problems by overexerting the individual. Furthermore, some forms of fostering resilience could be a latent form of human enhancement and trigger similar criticisms.

Internalizing Problems and Resilience in Primary School Students in Low and High Socioeconomic Vulnerability Establishments in Chile

“…[40][41][42][43][44] An intervention approach focused on promoting resilience only at the individual level is questionable since we are asking children and adolescents who are already stressed to make an additional effort to develop certain skills. 45 However, even if they do so, it is an incomplete intervention as it does not incorporate the other levels at which resilience must be developed. [40][41][42][43] Effective interventions are necessary, but access to resources in the community that can promote resilience is also essential.…”

“…In any case, that cannot be separated from public policies on mental health since they may or may not facilitate promoting students' wellbeing. 40,44,45 Otherwise, social inequality is perpetuated by leaving all the responsibility on individuals. 45 An essential aspect of resilience is that students feel supported by their peers, family, and community.…”

“…40,44,45 Otherwise, social inequality is perpetuated by leaving all the responsibility on individuals. 45 An essential aspect of resilience is that students feel supported by their peers, family, and community. 40 That in itself holds a clue as to why an intervention focused on individuals may fail.…”

Resilienzforschung und Prävention

“…Diese neuentwickelten Maßnahmen fließen langfristig in den Bereich Resilienz und Gesellschaft ein, um diese der Bevölkerung zugänglich zu machen. Zudem umfasst der Bereich die Analyse von Resilienzmechanismen und der Wirksamkeit von Resilienzinterventionen in beruflichen und privaten Lebenskontexten durch Feldstudien [44], das Erstellen von systematischen Reviews und Metaanalysen [32,33] sowie die Bearbeitung ethischer Fragen und Methodenkritik zum Thema Resilienz [45].…”