Drug Use, Resilience, and the Myth of the Golden Child

Abstract

(from the chapter) Resilience is not an innate characteristic that magically prevents a negative environment from influencing a child's development of substance abuse problems. The real causes of a resilient child's avoidance of negative ecological interactions are protective factors that provide attitudes and skills allowing the child to resist the effects of risk factors. The balance of risk and protective factors provides an adequate explanation, yet the idea of resilience can add a further dimension to understanding the etiology of drug use and other problems. But it is first necessary to define resilience so that it avoids false stereotypes and so that the definition distinguishes resilience from risk and protective factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)