READY FOR ANYTHING

“Scientists have compiled evidence based tactics for building resilience. Among them: rethink adversity, forge close friendships and tackle novel challenges”

By: Steven M. Southwick and Dennis S. Charney

Published: Scientific American Mind, July / August 2013; www.scientificamerican.com   

To access the article copy paste the following: 
http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1038/scientificamericanmind0713-32 

Level Difficulty: ****

BEFORE YOU READ

1.       Is resilience a characteristic one is born with or can one become more resilient?

2.        What factors build resilience? Why are some people more resilient than others?

QUESTIONS

1.       Read the story of Jerry White to the end. What characteristic lead him to first found the Landmine Survivors Network and ultimately win the Nobel Peace Prize? What would have happened if he’d lacked this feature?

2.       Fostering resilience is important because lack of it

·         Causes health problems

·         Causes psychological problems

·         Causes success

·         All of the above

·         None of the above

·         Other: please specify

3.       What conclusion can we draw from the paragraph discussing Dean M. Becker’s article?

4.       Is the following paragraph optimistic or pessimistic in tone? How do you know?

5.       What popular misconception concerning stress does the writer mention?

6.       Why exactly is the above a misconception?

7.       On reading about the factors that determine resilience – both inherited and environmental – we get the impression that resilience is mutable / immutable. However, this is not the case for the following specific reason: …………………………………………………………………………………………

8.       A student who fails a standardized test and passes it the following year sees the year not as a loss but as an opportunity to improve her skills and knowledge base. In this example, how does the student benefit? Prove your answer.

9.       The Vietnam prisoners of war reported their results because they were ……………………………….

10.   The purpose of mindfulness meditation is to prevent people from …………………………………and thus enable them to achieve …………………………………………………………………………………………………

11.   Activation in the left prefrontal cortex of the brain proves that ……………………….(Use your own words).

12.   The experiment involving 180 nuns proved that …………………………………………………………………….

13.   Imagine a close friend snaps at you for a simple mistake. How can you learn not to be offended?

14.   Why exactly does exercise seem to benefit psychological health in rats and humans?

15.   What long term benefit does exercise have on the brain?

16.   What is stress inoculation?

17.   The training of firefighters, police and soldiers all follow the general principles of ………………

18.   A. The 1998 study by Lynda A. King proved that ………………………………………………………………………

B. This is the case because ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

       19.  Do you think social support has a stronger influence in Turkey or The UK? Why?

       20.  Why does the writer feel Southwick is an example to us?

       21.   What is the stylistic significance of the last paragraph?

WRITING TASK

Use the information in the text and notes from any additional research you do write a problem solution essay on how to build resilience. It is suggested you seek out both texts and videos on the subject, make notes and then write.

READY FOR ANYTHING KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This brilliant and highly positive text provides information concerning important skills to help withstand all life throws at one and turn it all into a positive experience. It also happens to be a very well organized piece of writing and should be examined through outlining.

1. Resilience; he would have broken when confronted with adversity.
2. 1 and 2
3. Success appears to hinge on resilience
4. Optimistic; the last sentence.
5. Stress is bad
6. Difficulty that can be mastered facilitates growth, self esteem, self efficacy and resilience
7. Immutable; virtually anyone can become more resilient through disciplined, consistent practice.
8. There is improvement of mood; there are changes in the brain.
9. Individuals who frequently used cognitive reappraisal as a way to alter their emotional reactions.
10. Living in the past or future; an improved ability to focus, more flexible thinking, greater psychological wellbeing and better ability to cope with depression, anxiety and stress.
11. This person has practiced mindfulness meditation and training in cognitive reappraisal
12. Optimism and positive emotions are strongly associated with good mental and physical health, even longevity.
13. By using a technique called cognitive bias modification
14. It boosts levels of endorphin and serotonin; it suppresses the release of the stress hormone cortisol.
15.  It activates genes for proteins such as BDNF that promote the growth and repair of neurons, which prolonged stress can damage.
16. Deliberately taking on increasingly difficult challenges to learn to handle higher levels of stress; OR carefully calibrating your exposure to stress.
17. Inoculation
18. A. High levels of social support are associated with better psychological outcomes after many types of trauma. B. Backing from others increases an individual’s self confidence, provides a safety net if we should fall and bolster our belief that we can overcome obstacles.
19. Turkey; It is a collectivist culture
20. Because rather than going it alone in times of stress, she reached out for support from those who care about her.
21. It is the concluding paragraph but more importantly like the best conclusions, it ties back to the introduction pulling the whole text together as a unified whole.