Shaping and development of mental immunity

Abstract

Mental immunity determines many human attitudes and behaviors. Important intentions and goals may not be realized, not because of lack of willpower or lack of effort, but by lack of mental immunity. The article attempts to define mental immunity. It has been considered as the individual's ability to positive development and its good psychosocial functioning, despite objectively unfavorable living conditions. In shaping the immunity, both individual resources (good intellectual functioning, positive temperament, sense of humor), as well as features of the family environment (cohesion, warmth, parents' commitment to raising a child) are important, and also the features of the outside the family social environment (support from adults, eg teacher and other educational institutions). Mental immunity usually manifests itself in difficult situations. The article discusses three models of protection factors: (1) the risk-balancing model; (2) risk reduction model; (3) the immunization at risk model.