ABSTRACT
Aaron Antonovsky introduced the concept of salutogenesis in 1979, when he became aware from his research that some female holocaust survivors could enjoy life to the full. The medical paradigm of health is a condition that seeks stability by excluding pathologies, but salutogenesis is a process that generates healthful resources for full engagement with life. The salutogenic process induces a belief that personal and social resources will be available to overcome challenging circumstances. The etymology of salutogenesis means the origin of health. Salutogenic health is more a process of being able to harness personal and social resources relevant to prevailing conditions and thereby engage in challenging social activities that are intensely satisfying and meaningful. The disability paradox of a high quality of life despite adverse health experiences has frustrated quality-of-life scholars. The facts of locked-in syndrome are chilling confirmation of almost total homeostatic failure.
