Learning about systemic resilience from studies of student resilience

Abstract

Manifold studies account for student resilience-that is, successful learning and development in the face/aftermath of significant stressors. These studies compel attention to multiple systems at micro and macro level, and associated supports, that scaffold positive student outcomes in the face of risk. Accordingly, this chapter uses student resilience studies to make a case for a more systemic understanding of human resilience. An exploration of the interacting systems that co-facilitate student resilience prompts three propositions: (a) the resilience of a challenged human system (or subsystem) is meaningfully co-facilitated by co-occurring human and non-human systems at the micro through to macro levels; (b) co-occurring, co-facilitative systems are functional (i.e., resilient) systems; and (c) there might be a cost to the co-facilitative system or subsystem, but this potential cost can be moderated by the provision of relevant interventions and/or rewards.