Successful adaptation despite risk and adversity. Resilience requires exposure to significant risks, overcoming risks or adversity, and success that is beyond predicted expectations.

—Barton, W., “Methodological Challenges in the Study of Resilience,” in Handbook for Working with Children and Youth: Pathways to Resilience Across Cultures and Contexts, M. Ungar, Editor. 2003, Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA, pp. 135–147.

Emergence over time of unexpected strengths and competencies in those at risk.

—Beardslee, W.R., “Resilience in Action,” in Out of the Darkened Room: When a Parent Is
Depressed: Protecting the Children and Strengthening the Family, 2002, Little, Brown: Boston.

Not only the ability to rapidly ‘bounce back’ in the aftermath of inescapable extreme adversities, such as large-scale natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or warzone exposure, but also the quality of being ‘unflappable’ during the event or even to feel strengthened by it.

—Bracha, H.S., and J.O. Bienvenu, “Rapidly Assessing Trauma Exposure and Stress Resilience Following Large-Scale Disasters,” Journal of Emergency Management, 2005. 3(6): pp. 27–31.

The ability to thrive in the face of obstacles or adverse circumstances

—Condly, S.J., “Resilience in Children: A Review of Literature with Implications for Education,” Urban Education, 2006. 41: pp. 211–236.

The personal qualities that enable one to thrive in the face of adversity.

—Connor, K.M., and J.R. Davidson, “Development of a New Resilience Scale: The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Cd-Risc),” Depression and Anxiety, Vol. 18, No. 2, 2003, p. 76.