This paper deepens our understanding of individual resilience, which is generally considered as a positive and fixed capacity, overlooking its darker and dynamic nature. Based on an exploratory multi-case study as well as direct participation and observation in a community of Management PhD students, we propose an integrative and dynamic perspective of individual resilience. To gain a fuller understanding of the nature of individual resilience, we need to explore latent resilient capacities that are in place before they can be used and the process of manufacturing resilience (process resilience) as well as its outcomes. We argue that resilience is both a capacity and the ability to use this capacity, which is performed in action and in context. These processes and outcomes can be both ‘bright’ and ‘dark’. By revealing the dark side of process resilience, we consider the potential dysfunctional coping strategies that do help to build resilience, but which may be destructive and cause suffering.
