Abstract

ESTEVAO, Pedro; CALADO, Alexandre  and  CAPUCHA, Luís. Resilience: moving from a “heroic” notion to a sociological concept. Sociologia, Problemas e Práticas [online]. 2017, n.85, pp.9-25. ISSN 0873-6529.  https://doi.org/10.7458/SPP20178510115.

This paper presents a specific sociological theoretical framework to the concept of resilience. To do so, we reviewed the main theoretical developments on resilience, focusing our attention on the development of a “heroic” perspective of resilience. We point out its several pitfalls, and counter it with a concept of resilience grounded on sociological theory and poverty studies, presenting a definition for resilience, the conditions and characteristics of this social phenomenon, as well as a model of operationalization based on two major dimensions: mobilization of resources and shifting of risks. With this innovative approach we also call for a sociological research agenda for resilience.

Keywords : resilience; poverty; ways of life; risk; crisis.

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