“As human beings we belong to an extremely resilient species.  Since time immemorial we have rebounded from our relentless wars, countless disasters (both natural and man-made), and the violence and betrayal in our own lives” (Van der Kolk, 2014 p. 1).  Within the film Jackie (2016), by Pablo Larrain, Jackie Kennedy, performed by Natalie Portman, exhibits behaviors that resemble the result of extraordinary resilience during the immediate days following the death of her husband, President John F. Kennedy.  “…violent deaths may strike in horrifying ways, with relatives as helpless witnesses” (Kristensen, Weisaeth, Heir, 2012, p. 77).  Jackie’s direct observation and experience of the death of her husband by gunshot on November 22^nd, 1963 is an event that one may define as traumatic when relying upon the definition provided in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (5^thed., DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013 p. 271) that states “Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:

1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event.
2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.
3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend.In cases of actual or threatened death by a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental.
4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s).”

Jackie’s “ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) enabled her to navigate through her grief and initiate the planning and execution of a funeral to craft a memory for the country to assure the life and works of her husband were “accessible in their current and future thoughts” (Dennis, Ridder & Dennis Kunkel, 2006, p. 346).

Serving in the presidential office for two years, ten months and two days, Jackie was acutely aware that the end of her husband’s govern of the United States was accompanied by the lack of promise in making change for the country.  Only hours after the deadly assault to the president, as the vehicle carried his remains, rather than engage in her personal bereavement, she harnessed her energies to ensure that the people of the United States would had an equal opportunity to grieve the president’s death.  Jackie astutely inquired with the limousine driver whether he recalled three prior U.S. presidents that she named whom had been assassinated while in office.  When she learned that the driver could only identify Abraham Lincoln and his political accomplishments, she exhibited unwavering resolve, focusing on creating a funeral procession that was exact in design and structure to the procession of Abraham Lincoln’s.  Jackie’s attention to each detail and commitment to her work of securing her husband’s memory became an act of duty that she described to others who questioned her behaviors and judgment as, “I’m just doing my job”.  After Jackie experienced being by her husband’s side at the time of the deadly injury and safeguarding his physical integrity rather than demonstrating concern for her own safety while cradling him in her arms; one may wonder how this experience did not lead to posttraumatic symptoms for Ms. Kennedy.

“The sudden and violent loss of a loved one can be a devastating experience for the next of kin. Any sudden loss makes it difficult for relatives to grasp the reality that a close family member has died. Suddenness also hinders bereaved relatives from bidding a final farewell and carrying out any last services for the loved one” (Kristensen, 2012, p. 77).  For some individuals when faced with circumstances that may be experienced as traumatic, they possess an ability that allows for continuous demonstration of positive, progressive behaviors in the face of adversity.  “Resilience is the composite of phenomenon, which empowers a person to return to functional status following a damaging….violent event or events” (Madsen, M. & Abell, N., 2010 p 224).  Research suggests that a person’s personal attributes do not account for one’s sole capacity to exhibit resilience; though, "personal motivation to adapt is still an important factor in positive development after exposure to traumatic events”(Ungar, 2013 p. 256).  In addition, “individual resilience occurs when there is an opportunity structure (an environment that facilitates access to resources) and a willingness by those who control resources to provide what individuals need in ways that are congruent with their culture.” (Ungar, 2013 p. 256).  As such, resilience is influenced by personal attributes coupled with an environment that possesses “protective factors”.

“Protective factors empower and support the person so that she or he may avoid or successfully work through negative outcomes associated with violent experiences.  When protective factors are reduced, the risk of trauma become higher and reaching recovery becomes more difficult” (Madsen, M. & Abell, N., 2010 p 224).  Authors Kristensen, et al., (2012), Hjemdal, (2007) and Madsen & Abell (2010) to name a few, provide a breadth of specific protective factors that researchers offer that support the presence of specific emotional, biological and environmental variables that defend one from developing symptoms of trauma.  Such protective factors include; but are not limited to the reliance upon spirituality, the ability to problem solve, the use of optimism, prior high self-esteem and self-efficacy, being able to find meaning in the occurrence and the ability to access social support.  Protective factors that one can access from personal attributes in concert with resources from one’s environment provide opportunities for the exhibition of resilience and recovery from traumatic incidents.  “Far more individuals will adapt positively after traumatic events when we make environments benign” in the process of healing (Ungar, 2013 p. 263).

Within the days following of the death of John F. Kennedy, Jackie was provided with an abundant amount of support from family and government staff.  Most individuals who surrounded her expressed concern regarding her safety.  Similarly, individuals offered patience while she processed the events that occurred which manifested in her need to articulate the experience of her husband’s death multiple times.  When she requested that a security staff member share his personal account of the deadly event, staff acquiesced in order to decrease her distress. Moreover, Bobby Kennedy, her brother-in-law, confidant and friend supplied her with support and advisement. Though actively grieving which was demonstrated by wanderings of the White House while intoxicated by alcohol and medications, Jackie’s personal strength and perseverance in concert with the equipped resources of family and the United States’ government staff cultivated an environment of protective factors.  Such combination of personal characteristics and environmental supports successfully shielded her from developing traumatic symptoms and advanced her to actualize her vision of how the country would place her husband to rest.  And, now, fifty-four years thereafter, and one can imagine for scores to follow, we as a nation know and will continue to hold a memory for President John F. Kennedy.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5^thEdition). Washington DC: Author.

Dennis, M.R., Ridder, K., & Dennis Kunkel, A. (2006). Grief, glory, and political capital in the capitol: Presidents eulogizing presidents. Death Studies, 30, 325-349.

Hjemdal, O. (2007) Measuring protective factors: the development of two resilience scales in Norway. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, (16), 303-321.

Harvard Medical Health Letter (2011). Beyond the five stages of grief.  www.health.harvard.edu

Kristensen, P., Weisaeth, L., Heir, T. (2012).  Bereavement and mental health after sudden and violent losses: a review. Psychiatry, 75(1), 76-97.

Madsen, M. & Abell, N. (2010). Trauma resilience scale: validation of protective factors associated with adaptation following violence.  Research on Social Work Practice 20(2) 223-233.

“Resilience.” (2017). Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilience.

Ungar, M. (2013). Resilience, trauma, context and culture.  Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 14(3) 255-266.

Van Der Kolk, B. M.D. (2014).  The body keeps the score.  Brain, mind and body in the healing of trauma. New York, NY: Penguin Books.