Date of Graduation

Spring 5-20-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Health and Behavioral Sciences

Thesis Chair

Dr. Hector Garcia

Abstract

Resilience, the ability to recover from adversity, is a cornerstone of psychological well-being and a key to human thriving and mental fortitude. This study examines resilience as an adaptive psychological mechanism and situates it within an evolutionary framework to provide a clearer understanding of resilience across diverse populations, personalities, and cultures. Specifically, this study investigates whether perceived social rank predicts resilience and explores how social support and alliances mediate this relationship in a population of human service professionals. Participants (N = 256) completed an online survey that included measurements of resilience, social rank perceptions, personality, and coalition-related variables. Results suggest that higher rank perceptions and emotional stability predict enhanced resilience, partially due to social support and reliable alliances. These results support an evolutionary model wherein rank functions as a mechanism for navigating social hierarchies and predicts human resilience.

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