Building resilience in the face of adversity, with George Bonanno, PhD

In this episode of Speaking of Psychology, Kim Mills interviews Dr. George Bonanno about the psychology of human loss, grief, and resilience. Dr. Bonanno defines resilience as a stable trajectory of healthy functioning after exposure to adversity, arguing it's a capacity inherent in human nature, not a fixed trait. The discussion explores the modern concept of trauma, contrasting it with historical perspectives, and differentiates between potentially traumatic events and lasting trauma. Dr. Bonanno outlines four common trajectories after experiencing loss: chronic symptoms, recovery, worsening, and resilience, emphasizing that resilience is the most common. He also discusses regulatory flexibility as a key component of resilience, involving context sensitivity, utilizing a repertoire of strategies, and monitoring feedback. The conversation touches on treatments for PTSD, the importance of trial and error, and ways parents can foster resilience in their children, concluding with Dr. Bonanno's current work on transition stress in veterans and applying the concept of flexibility to ease their adjustment to civilian life.