According to Benard, «we are all born with innate resiliency, with the capacity to develop the traits commonly found in resilient survivors: social competence (
responsiveness,
cultural flexibility, empathy, caring, communication skills, and a sense of humor); problem -
solving (planning, help - seeking, critical and creative thinking); autonomy (sense of identity, self - efficacy, self - awareness, task - mastery, and adaptive distancing from negative messages and conditions); and a sense of purpose and belief in a bright future (goal direction, educational aspirations, optimism, faith, and spiritual connectedness)» (Benard, 1991).