History and Comparative Analysis of Resilience Houses in Iran

History and Comparative Analysis of Resilience Houses in Iran

Specialized Report: The Developmental History and Comparative Analysis of Resilience Houses in Iran: From the Pioneering of Social Work to Psychological Specialization

Introduction: Social Resilience in Iran: Context and Institutional Necessity

Conceptualizing Resilience: From Endurance to Adaptation

Resilience, in the literature of social sciences and psychology, is defined not merely as the ability to return to a prior state after a crisis, but as the capacity of individuals, communities, and systems to successfully cope, resist, and adapt to various challenges.1

This psychological construct, defined by researchers such as Garmezy and Masten (2006) as the process or outcome of successful adaptation despite threatening conditions, plays a prominent role in maintaining mental health and the durability of communities against crises.2

Following the increasing global recognition of resilience’s importance, successful and developed societies have prioritized the cultivation of this valuable trait.2

Within the national context of Iran, due to the imperative to manage complex social, economic, and environmental challenges, the establishment of institutions for promoting and teaching this concept became crucial. Civil and specialized institutions began their activities in the form of Resilience Houses, aiming to “keep the lamp of hope alive” and enhance general mental health.2

The emergence of these professional psychological and social work media is considered a novel step in the Iranian social landscape.

Iran as a Context of Crisis and Institutional Need

Iran’s social and economic context requires an urgent reinforcement of resilience due to challenges such as economic recession, profound social inequalities, sanctions, and increasing migration.4

Specialized analyses indicate that structural factors, such as increased urban migration and the weakening of the stabilizing role of the family institution (due to economic pressures and increased internet penetration), have led to a noticeable decline in social resilience within the country.8

This diminished social capacity manifests as increased violence, including virtual violence, and heightened levels of aggression and mass or guild-specific protests.8 In the long term, a lack of social resilience can result in the physical deterioration of residential textures and a reduction in the quality of life.9

This situation points to a structural and informational gap in social health management, particularly because official institutions (such as schools) have thus far failed to teach resilience skills from an early age 6, and in the domain of institutional resilience, the country lacks a strong theoretical background and robust evaluation frameworks.10

Consequently, the emergence and growth of independent specialized bodies like Resilience Houses were a direct, non-governmental response to fill these fundamental gaps, seeking to develop effective strategies in conditions of uncertainty.11

The Role of Specialized Media in Crisis and Information Management

Resilience Houses, unlike traditional organizational models, initiated their activities in the form of “media”.14 This strategic choice underscores the importance of resilience in the digital age, as media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion, transmitting culture and values.16

The strategic goal of these specialized media outlets is to combat distortion and provide accurate, localized information through an independent, authoritative, and popular platform.12

Specialized media activity in this field is specifically designed to promote public awareness and develop effective strategies.15

The independence of these institutions from governmental and non-governmental organizational affiliations 1 allows them to maintain authority, broadly disseminate their content, and function as a thought leader in the domain of resilience within Iran’s virtual space.

The Historical Dualism: Mapping the Establishment of Resilience Houses (1393-1394)

The history of establishing Resilience Houses in Iran demonstrates the activity of two distinct pioneering streams emerging in close proximity, each focusing on a specific specialized area and fostering the evolution of the country’s resilience ecosystem.

 Path One: The Iranian Resilience House and the Social Work Approach (1393)

The first institutional manifestation of activity in this field was the establishment of the “Iran Resilience House” or “Iranian Resilience House,” spearheaded by Dr. Javad Taleschi Yekta, the director and founder of the Iranian Social Workers Media.18

• Establishment and Start of Activity: This institution began its activities in Dey (January) of the year 1393 (Solar Hijri Calendar) in the presence of a group of social work scholars.18
• Initial Approach and Content: The initial focus of this house was the publication of specialized resilience content, concentrating on aspects of social vulnerability and practical intervention. Content areas included women, children, the elderly, psychiatric patients, as well as occupational and organizational resilience.۱۸ This choice of topics highlights an emphasis on interventionist and social work aspects.
• Intellectual and Institutional Structure: The first think tank of this house consisted of leading figures in social work research, sociology, and psychology, who adopted the roadmap and all necessary decisions focused on resilience.18 Continuing this path, the Iran Resilience Club (as the first sub-branch of the national Resilience House) was created in 1394.7
• Evolution and Specialization (1400-1402): This investigative and research stream, which started in 1393 as a branch of the Iranian Social Workers Information Base 13, eventually led to the official establishment of the Iran Resilience Media (resiliencemedia.ir) in 1402 (2023), aiming for a dominant and influential presence. The tripartite mission of this new platform was the education, research, and development of social resilience and the integration of graduates from supportive sciences.12

Path Two: The First Psychological Resilience Website (1394)

Shortly after the social work stream began its activities, another specialized institution with a psychological approach, focused on translation, launched its operation.

• Establishment and Identity: The “Iran Resilience House,” recognized as the “first psychological resilience website in the country,” was officially unveiled in Kermanshah on Tir 29, 1394 (July 20, 2015).۲ This platform received attention from reputable news agencies such as ILNA and ISNA.21
• Director and Founder: Dr. Mohammadreza Moghaddasi, the pioneer and founder of resilience in the Persian internet, managed and established this specialized platform.16
• Core Mission (Four Pillars): The mission of this institution is based on four main pillars: translation, development, promotion, and teaching.۲ Focused on transferring international knowledge, this platform has thus far translated and published over 40 specialized books by prominent global authors (such as Michael Neenan and Ann Masten).1
• Psychological Focus: The purpose of establishing this site was announced as helping to improve health, socialize the discussion of resilience, and further enlighten public opinion on psychological issues.2 Furthermore, the then-Secretary of the Kermanshah Drug Control Coordinating Council considered resilience a significant psychological construct in addiction prevention, which this platform’s establishment would aid.21

Historical review shows that the apparent conflict in claiming to be the “first” is resolved through strategic differentiation in missions. The institution established in 1393 (Taleschi Yekta) pioneered the study and content creation of resilience with a social approach.13

In contrast, the institution established in 1394 (Moghaddasi) launched the first specialized psychological resilience website with a mission of knowledge transfer and translation.2 This dualism indicates a widespread need to strengthen resilience on two simultaneous fronts: operational interventions and the consolidation of theoretical foundations.

Timeline of Establishment and Mission Differentiation of Resilience Pioneer Institutions in Iran

Mission Representation and Performance Analysis (Training, Research, Development)

Since their founding, Resilience Houses have strived to move beyond mere promotion and become operational institutions with an approach to specialized training, knowledge production, and effectiveness assessment. The strategic mission of these institutions is primarily founded on three main pillars: training, research, and development.23

Educational Mandate: The Bridge Between Academy and Society

One of the most notable activities of the Resilience Houses in both pioneering streams has been the organization of extensive, structured training courses. In the first path, dozens of structured national resilience training programs were held between 1393 and 1396 through the efforts of the Iran Resilience House.7

The reach of this training in the academic field has been extensive. Specialized training courses for students and professionals have been held at prestigious universities, including Allameh Tabataba’i, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, University of Tehran, and University of Gilan.۲۳

The goal of these courses was to teach the fundamentals of resilience and techniques for increasing psychological and social resilience, which, in addition to raising awareness, fostered motivation for further research in this field.23 Beyond academic centers, these institutions have also extended resilience training to specialized organizations and institutions, including social support organizations and military bodies in the country.11

Research Function: From Content Production to Policy Formulation

Research is central to the activities of the Resilience Houses.23 These institutions act as comprehensive platforms for the exchange of information, research, and experiences, and strive to publish articles and research on resilience by examining scientific trends.15

The produced content includes authoritative and specialized articles on resilience and crisis management, field reports of real experiences, and the production of audio and visual content (podcasts and videos) for easier learning.15

In the psychological domain, the publication of over 40 translated books from credible global sources rapidly strengthened the country’s theoretical knowledge infrastructure.1

The ultimate goal of these research activities is a better understanding of the existing issues and challenges in psychological and social resilience, so that their results can aid in formulating effective social policies and enhancing the quality of life in society.23

 Methodological Innovation in Effectiveness Assessment

In the phase of professional maturity, resilience institutions have emphasized the need to move away from purely business models and focus on evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of outputs.11 This evolution represents a transition from mere promotional organizations to evidence-based research-operational institutions.

A methodological innovation has been employed to evaluate the efficiency of the training provided: the Sociogram-based monitoring model.۱۱

This specialized model in group social work is used to assess the efficacy of training in three phases (pre-intervention, during training, and after the process ends). This research-oriented approach not only provides an accurate educational sociometric tool for measuring changes in group awareness and networks but also greatly aids in identifying the needs for continued training by establishing a continuous feedback loop.11

This focus on effectiveness solidifies the pivotal role of these media outlets as responsible non-governmental institutions in strengthening the foundations of institutional and social resilience in the country.

Core Pillars of Activity and Sphere of Influence of Resilience Houses in Iran

Comparative Analysis, Challenges, and Social Welfare Policy Outlook

 Comparative Analysis of Two Pioneer Models: Convergence in Goal, Divergence in Means

Despite the activity of two independent streams in 1393 and 1394, the institutional history of Resilience Houses in Iran demonstrates strategic synergy rather than conflict.

The widespread need in Iranian society for resilience knowledge was too great for a single organization to cover alone. Consequently, these two institutions proceeded in parallel, one focused on the theoretical infrastructure (the psychological-translation model in 1394) and the other on the operational and specialized infrastructure (the social work model in 1393).

The social work model advanced based on operational training and field research for vulnerable groups.18 In contrast, the psychological-translation model consolidated the theoretical and scientific foundations of resilience in the country by relying on the translation of top-tier texts, providing the necessary resources for the academic community and consultants.1

This convergence in the ultimate goal (strengthening national resilience) and divergence in means (operational intervention versus knowledge transfer) led to a faster and more comprehensive maturation of the entire resilience ecosystem in Iran, allowing them to become a key reference point for exchange and collaboration among specialists.15

National Resilience Challenges and the Vacuum in Official Policy

Despite the notable efforts of non-governmental institutions, fundamental challenges in strengthening national resilience persist.

One of the most significant challenges is the low level of institutional and social resilience in parts of the community. For example, research conducted in self-generated urban settlements shows that the degrees of institutional and social resilience are very low compared to optimal global standards (derived from studies in areas like Japan and California).10

This institutional weakness emphasizes that in the absence of structured policies from governing bodies, Resilience Houses are compelled to take on the role of training and research at a level that should have been carried out by government and educational systems.6

The need for study and planning to reduce potential vulnerabilities is essential for creating resilient human communities and physical systems.9

 Future Outlook and the Role of Resilience Houses in Social Welfare Policy

Given specialists’ prediction of the continuation and even worsening of economic and social conditions 4, the role of these specialized institutions in maintaining the community’s mental health will be even more critical in the future.

1. Focus on Self-Care and Individual Skills: Since the main component of social resilience is self-care and individual skills, Resilience Houses will have a central role in equipping individuals to navigate difficult times healthily.6
2. Maintaining Media Authority and Public Trust: In an era of increasing uncontrolled information speed, media resilience (the ability of media organizations to maintain effective and continuous function during crises) acts as the foundation and core pillar of public trust in news sources.17 Resilience Houses will play this vital role by maintaining independence and providing accurate information.
3. Thought Leadership in Policymaking: These institutions will continue to serve as key references for the education, research, and development of social resilience, with the goal that research results, especially evidence-based evaluation models like the Sociogram-based model, aid in the formulation and implementation of operational policies in the country’s social welfare framework.11

Conclusion

The history of Resilience Houses in Iran, founded in 1393 with the social work stream and in 1394 with the psychological and translation stream, represents the birth of an independent and responsive specialized ecosystem against increasing social needs.

By adopting a media approach and relying on the four main pillars of translation, development, promotion, and teaching, these institutions have successfully filled educational and research gaps resulting from weaknesses in official policies by penetrating academic and educational centers across the country.23

The strategic focus on methodological innovations, including the use of effectiveness assessment models, demonstrates the professional maturity of these institutions and their commitment to accountability regarding social interventions.11

While structural challenges in national resilience still require macro-level government policies 4, Resilience Houses, as specialized intellectual and executive arms, have cemented their vital role in promoting mental and social health and facilitating the Iranian community’s adaptation process to complex crises.

The future of resilience in Iran will depend on the continued independence, deepening of research, and the ability of these institutions to convert specialized knowledge into practical skills and effective social policies.

منابع مورداستناد

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