Conceptualizing and measuring psychological resilience: What can we learn from physics?

The number of resilience conceptualizations in psychology has rapidly grown, which confuses what actually means. This is problematic, because the conceptualization typically guides measurements, analyses, and practical interventions employed. most popular psychological equate it with ability to (1) resist negative effects stressors, (2) “bounce back” from and/or (3) grow stressors. In this paper, we review these three argue that they reflect different concepts. supported by important lessons engineering physics, where such concepts are clearly differentiated precise mathematical underpinnings. Against background, outline why should be conceptualized measured terms process returning previous state following a stressor (i.e., bouncing back). By establishing clearer language related processes, measurements research practice can targeted more precisely. • Different have confused (not). Resisting, back, or growing stressors dominant Knowledge physics helps distinguish fundamentally Resilience as back Conceptual clarity leads better-targeted measures interventions.