Resiliency in the Black family
By: W. Henry Gregory
Published: 2001
Language: eng
Number of pages: 208
Subjects: African American families -- Psychological aspects; African Americans -- Psychology; Resilience (Personality trait)
First sentence: Resiliency is the ability to rebound from adversity strengthened by the experience.  It refers to manifest competence in the context of significant challenges to adaptation or development (Masten & Coatworth, 1998).    To identify resilience, two judgments are required: First, that there has been a significant threat to the individual (or system) typically indexed by high-risk status or exposure to severe adversity or trauma; and secondly, that the quality of adaptation or development is good (Masten, 1998).   Resiliency entails more than merely surviving, getting through, or escaping a harrowing ordeal (Walsh, 1998).  Survivors are not necessarily resilient; some become trapped in a position as victims, nursing their wounds and blocked from growth by anger and blame (Wolin & Wolin, 1993).  Resilient people learn from their experiences and heal from painful wounds.  They take charge of their lives, living fully and loving well.  Resilient people build on their experience of adversity and become stronger, more effective people.
Description: This study considers the process of overcoming adversity from the perspective of the Black family who has historically labored under disadvantage in many areas yet continues, in many cases, to manifest degrees of resilience.  This study uses a constructivist approach to inquiry, with its emphasis on power sharing, to examine the adaptive processes of resilient black families and attempts to identify and clarify the mental constructs that form the foundation on which family resilience is based for them.            
Nine Black families each of whom has experienced hazardous adversity within seven years of the study were interviewed.  The hazardous adversities all involved loss and included suicides, murders, illness, sexual abuse and the threat of termination of parental rights.   Ten processes were identified that support the resilient behavior of the children and families.  Five of the processes are themes found in previous research and clinical observations with various populations:  meaning making, positive outlook; spirituality; connectedness; and open expression of emotions.   The remaining five processes represent new themes that expand, clarify and add more definition to the major themes: the expression of empathy, compassion and forgiveness; the use of rituals; the practice of remembering; the expression of gratitude and humility; and the experience of dreams and clairvoyance.
This combination of processes, collectively, may imply a culturally relevant resiliency pattern that might be useful to researchers, clinicians and policy makers who are interested in understanding the resilience of Black families from a relational perspective that has direct implications for family strengthening.
Notes: Thesis (Ph. D.)--Fielding Institute, 2001

Includes bibliographical references (p. 183-194)

Photocopy. Ann Arbor, Mich. : UMI Dissertation Services, 2002. 23 cm
Table of contents: pagenum: 1
class: chapter
title: Introduction; pagenum: 5
class: section
title: Reviewof the Literature; pagenum: 5
class: section
title: Resiliency; pagenum: 8
class: subsection
title: Attributes of the Resilient; pagenum: 9
class: subsection
title: Misidentification of Resilience; pagenum: 11
class: subsection
title: Relational Resilience; pagenum: 15
class: section
title: Sense of Coherence; pagenum: 16
class: section
title: Family Dynamics; pagenum: 18
class: section
title: Culture and Ethnicity; pagenum: 19
class: section
title: Black Family Studies; pagenum: 22
class: subsection
title: Trends in Black Family Studies; pagenum: 24
class: subsection
title: Black Family Resiliency; pagenum: 29
class: section
title: Summary of the Literature; pagenum: 31
class: chapter
title: Statement of the Problem; pagenum: 31
class: section
title: Problem Statement; pagenum: 33
class: section
title: Purpose Statement; pagenum: 36
class: section
title: Significance of the Study; pagenum: 38
class: section
title: Delimitations; pagenum: 39
class: section
title: Limitations; pagenum: 41
class: chapter
title: Methodology; pagenum: 41
class: section
title: Constructivist Inquiry; pagenum: 43
class: section
title: The Case Study; pagenum: 43
class: section
title: Case Selection; pagenum: 55
class: section
title: Insstrumentation; pagenum: 56
class: section
title: Data Collection; pagenum: 58
class: section
title: Interview Guide; pagenum: 60
class: section
title: Data Analysis; pagenum: 63
class: section
title: Key Processes in Family Resiliency; pagenum: 67
class: section
title: Authenticity; pagenum: 68
class: chapter
title: Findings; pagenum: 68
class: section
title: Results of Data Analyses; pagenum: 68
class: subsection
title: Introduction; pagenum: 69
class: subsection
title: Demographics; pagenum: 71
class: subsection
title: Frame of Reference; pagenum: 75
class: subsection
title: The Families; pagenum: 141
class: subsection
title: Cross-Family Analyses; pagenum: 141
class: subsection
title: Previously Identified Processes; pagenum: 159
class: subsection
title: Cultural Specificity; pagenum: 169
class: part
title: Discussion; pagenum: 183
label: References
class: part
title: References; pagenum: 196
title: Interview Guide
class: part
label: Appendix A; pagenum: 198
title: Consents & Assents
class: part
label: Appendix B; pagenum: 203
title: Requests for Copy of Results
class: part
label: Appendix C; pagenum: 205
title: Family Search Letter
class: part
label: Appendix D; pagenum: 206
label: Appendix D
class: part
title: Family Check Letter; pagenum: 208
label: Appendix E
class: part
title: Definition of Terms