ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part seeks to illustrate the case for a much broader understanding of resilience than is currently captured by the existing literature. An understanding of resilience that limits itself to psychological factors without also exploring the role of the social context will be a partial and potentially misleading understanding. The part focuses on how sociological issues have a part to play in making sense of resilience and, therefore, in promoting greater levels of resilience where possible. It shows close linkages between resilience as part of a framework for coping with adversity and life challenges, and grief as so often, if not the source of such challenges, an important component of them. The part describes vulnerability as an important existential concept that needs to be understood both psychologically and sociologically.
