Running Head: A QUESTION OF RESILIENCE

A LEARNING MACHINE: PLASTICITY AND CHANGE THROUGHOUT LIFE

A Question of Resilience
A Learning Machine: Plasticity and Change Throughout Life
Chance Larkin
Salt Lake Community College

Running Head: A QUESTION OF RESILIENCE

A LEARNING MACHINE: PLASTICITY AND CHANGE THROUGHOUT LIFE

Resiliency is the ability to overcome challenges of all kindstrauma, tragedy,

personal crises, plain 'ole' life problemsand bounce back stronger, wiser, and more
personally powerful. It's important because this is what we need to do when faced with
life's inevitable difficulties. Neuroplasticity the brain's ability to reorganize itself by
forming new neural connections throughout life. It allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the
brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new
situations or to changes in their environment.
A Lifelong Perspective, showcased extraordinary research from various areas, all
suggesting that the brain is almost infinitely adaptable from earliest infancy through latest
adulthood Although their research approached the topic from different angles, each
presenter demonstrated the brains extraordinary capacity to bend, stretch, expand, and
specialize itself in response to challenges.(Nelson)
The resiliency in humans and how they deal with an event or series of events,
from abuse to war and being able to bounce back away from the event that have
happened and continue to be successful in their life and moving forward away from the
events, like continuing on in your education or job, career and living a normal life while
being satisfied with your success at that time. The human resilience is stronger in some
than others. You can take two people that have had a tragedy of events, and the longterm affect is different depending on the resilience of each. The family of the four young
girls that were sexually abused gave research some in depth facts. In this case the oldest
was 13, then 11 along with two younger girls. Having to deal with the sexual abuse
while no understanding why their mother was not able to stop the abuse. The girls had to

Running Head: A QUESTION OF RESILIENCE

A LEARNING MACHINE: PLASTICITY AND CHANGE THROUGHOUT LIFE

deal with being put into foster care. Being chief witnesses in the case, where the girls
testimony that send Osborn to prison. Shows evidence of basis resiliency about the
young girls. The two older girls who were sexually abused for a longer period of time,
have both continued in life with Tichelle who was 11 before she was released from foster
care to live back with her mother. Tichelle seemed to be happier with everyday life
events like being involved in cheer leading, having excellent grades and be able to have a
relationship with her mother. Other experts believe no matter what genes the abuse child
may have, she still will need the ingredient to promote resilience. This in my opinion
makes her very resilient. LaTanya who was the older of the two girls at age 13 she was
released back home. Is not so forgiving to her mother, and does not understand how she
could not stop the abuse. Also because she was older during the events and had to take
care of her younger siblings had an effect on her. La Tanya was still resilient as she
overcame the abuse her genetic effects as she expressed her emotion by talking about
what tragic event that had happened in the neighborhood. She suffers with
nightmares. But on the resilient side she has a job and is raising a family she will love
and take care of. LaTanya is a survivor of abuse. LaTanya said. I feel a little better that
there is a reason another reason, for my life being hard. And I understand that what Im
able to do for my kid, even with this and myself is good. Its good.

The Bazelon will impact me on how I go about dealing with events in my

everyday life, if something is dragging me down, if its in school, work or activity I do,
extreme sports like free skiing, the fear factor, or bad wreck, crash or nerves on learning a

Running Head: A QUESTION OF RESILIENCE

A LEARNING MACHINE: PLASTICITY AND CHANGE THROUGHOUT LIFE

new trick. For myself to have confidence and success in what I a doing in a period of
time during skiing or doing studies in school, being able to bounce back and build from
the events. Continue to growth in what ever makes me happy, and dont let it hold me
back or bring me down. This information is important for people to know, because there
is people struggling with ways to over come their scenario from the past or present to
inform them that they can be resilient and bounce back pull them out of the rut they are in
and get out of it.

Running Head: A QUESTION OF RESILIENCE

A LEARNING MACHINE: PLASTICITY AND CHANGE THROUGHOUT LIFE

References

Neuroplasticity. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2014

What is Resiliency and Why is it So Important? (n.d.). Retrieved November
25, 2014