https://padlet.com/hholman3/mw048kllr7s54d7g Response to Group Starter en-us 2021-09-16 23:14:33 UTC 2021-10-27 22:37:40 UTC hello@padlet.com hholman3 https://padlet.com/hholman3/mw048kllr7s54d7g/wish/1747180962 I want to build on Ethan’s comment about resiliency as it relates to Randall using evidence to back it up. As he mentioned, people are likely to become more resilient to their traumas if their surrounding environment is supportive, caring, and overall healthy. In addition to this idea, I have found that many survivors of trauma also have a shift in their own mindset, whether it be an awakening, the feeling of a second chance, or a taste of success. In this article by J. Curtis McMillen, the overall idea discussed is that most people who go through adversity come out of it as better, stronger people. As adverse events can lead to a change in life structure, many people build resilience by forming a deeper understanding on the purpose of life and who they are. McMillen mentions that this concept applies more-so to people who have experienced either one or multiple acute negative events rather than long, chronic adversity. In which case, this applies to Randall.

_{source:
McMillen, J. C. (1999). Better for it: how people benefit from adversity. Social Work, 44(5), 455–467.}]]> 2021-09-16 23:52:09 UTC https://padlet.com/hholman3/mw048kllr7s54d7g/wish/1747180962 hholman3 https://padlet.com/hholman3/mw048kllr7s54d7g/wish/1747202734 To build upon Ethan’s idea of Randall’s portrayal of perfectionism as a defense mechanism, I wanted to point out an example of this from the series. When Randall goes to his father’s house, he states that his reason for coming there is to tell him everything he has accomplished without the help of his biological father. He shows him his fancy car, making sure to note its price and the fact that he paid with cash among other glamorous, positive details about his life. At this moment, Randall’s perfectionism is being used as a defense mechanism against his father. In addition, this moment also paints a picture of Randall’s resilience against the trauma of his father leaving him at the fire station as a newborn infant. 

Racism and Negative Stereotypes: We learn as viewers that Randall faced direct racism as a child from classmates and even his own brother. When expressing that he found  his biological father, Randall also mentions how "cliche" it is that his biological father was an addict who abandoned him as an infant. This comment shows Randall's awareness of negative stereotypes associated with his race. I think both the experience of racism and the stereotypes that go along with Randall's father leaving built his resilience to the point of perfectionism. This was done to almost “prove everyone wrong” by going against all stereotypes and becoming an accomplished man with a beautiful wife and family.

]]> 2021-09-17 00:06:56 UTC https://padlet.com/hholman3/mw048kllr7s54d7g/wish/1747202734 hholman3 https://padlet.com/hholman3/mw048kllr7s54d7g/wish/1747235856 This video discusses the science of resilience paired with the experience of the person. While everyone has different genes and chemical makeup, these genes react differently to certain environmental situations based on a number of reasons. In general, an individual's resiliency is built in combination of their own characteristics and the environment that they grew up in, and there needs to be at least one positive adult who guides the child's journey to resilience. Therefore, Randall's environment was a large influence in his building of resiliency, as mentioned by Ethan as well.]]> 2021-09-17 00:24:18 UTC https://padlet.com/hholman3/mw048kllr7s54d7g/wish/1747235856