Surviving vs. Thriving

In the article Paradigm Shift: Why A Focus On Health Is Important, Ickovics and Park attempt to break down the concept of thriving and characteristics common to individuals or groups who thrive following stressful or adverse situations. They suppose that there are certain universal factors that determine how people deal with stressful events. This article begins to dissect why some people or groups of people go beyond survival and recovery following a stressor or illness and thrive.
First, they examine the conceptual considerations, knowing that we must have a grasp on what exactly we mean by thriving before we can understand how and why it occurs. Is it decreased reactivity to future stressors, faster recovery from challenge or a consistently higher level of functioning? Do personality and coping processes lead to growth and thriving? Is it related to physical health through the window of hormonal balance?
Methodological issues are also covered. The problem with using traditional research models to examine thriving is that the researcher’s values could compromise the impartial analysis of the subject. Also outlined are a few personal and social accounts which show that changes in self perception, priorities, attitude, social connection and beliefs affect resiliency. Along with these changes, factors such as parenting and strength of family and community tend to contribute to the thriving of nations and individuals.
In the study of the social context of thriving, the role of race, class and gender equality in the organization of a society is discussed. Thriving in the face of a challenge seems to be largely determined by one’s location in the social hierarchy. It is suggested that if we begin to move away from vulnerability and deficit models to focus instead on triumphs in the face of adversity we may see a paradigm shift. We focus so much on telling people their weaknesses that they forget they have strengths!
The conclusion of this article finds that incorporating these various interdisciplinary methodologies to the scientific study of thriving can enhance our understanding of health, not just for individuals but also as applied to families, organizations and even nations attempting to recover in the face of profound challenge. The authors were successful in conveying their message that a change of thinking is necessary. It is time to shift the paradigm from illness to health. There has been too much focus on what makes people sick instead of what makes them well. By focusing on the scientific implications of thriving versus surviving we can develop programs of intervention and prevention with an eye toward enhancing health and well being rather than simply promoting a return to the status quo. It is time to stop thinking that “not being sick” is the same as “being healthy.”