Resilience in Children: Fostering Need Expression and Gratification

The purpose of the present investigation was to identify need pattern exhibited by resilient children within the family as well as outside the family. The screening of resilient children was carried out with the help of teachers and peers in various high schools. Fifteen boys and fifteen girls were selected to constitute the resilient group. From similar educational environment, 60 (30 boys and 30 girls) were taken as non-resilient group participants. During the study, these four-quasi experimental groups were administered a protective support system measure of need expression and gratification. The needs included basic, security, affiliation, cognitive, career and self-actualization. The groups were compared and the result indicated that resilient children showed greater need gratification outside the family where as non-resilient children showed it within the family. Moreover, the expression of higher order needs was pronounced in case of resilient children. The findings were explained and major implication for further research was obtained.