Resilience Training might appear as a modern concept, but its roots trace back to ancient times. The origins of resilience as a structured concept can be traced primarily to psychological studies in the mid-20th century. Prior to this, references to resilience were scattered throughout philosophy and literature.
The concept gained prominence in the post-war era, during the 1950s, when psychologists began studying the reasons behind an individual’s ability to bounce back from adversity. Norman Garmezy and Emmy Werner laid the foundation for modern Resilience Training with their developmental studies focusing on factors that contributed to resilience among children exposed to adverse situations.
Resilience Training as a discipline skyrocketed during the 80s and 90s. Notable milestones include the establishment of The International Resilience Project by psychologist Edith H. Grotberg in 1987, which sought to identify components of resilience and methods of enhancing it globally. Also, the development of the Resilience Scale, an important tool for measuring resilience, by Wagnild and Young in 1993 played a crucial role.
Post 2000, Resilience Training has been embraced by the corporate world, schools, and individuals as an essential life skill. The last two decades have seen the introduction of various programs and workshops boosting resilience in response to growing stress and mental health concerns.
From psychological inquiry to a globally recognized discipline, Resilience Training has indeed come a long way. Its celebration continues to metamorphose, adapting to historical context and societal needs. Today the training is often incorporated within larger mental health initiatives and personal development programs, making resilience training more mainstream than ever.