Character Matters
- Pasquale Puleo
- Feb 15, 2020
- 1 min read

The Science of Resilience
Part I
Metacognitive Reflections on Paul Tough’s book, “Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why”, The Atlantic, June 2016
Neuroscientists have concluded that a set of ‘non-cognitive’ character strengths that include resilience, conscientiousness, optimism, self-control, and grit make a huge difference in the academic success of children. The most important force shaping these character traits is ‘stress’. It triggers physiological and neurological adaptions that affect the way bodies react to the environment.
In early childhood, stress, as a ‘persistent pressing signal’ stimulates a complex network connecting the brain, the immune system, and the endocrine system. These arousal conditions activate the ‘fight-or-flight’ response and raise the production of adrenaline and stress hormones. Consequently, the higher levels of produced stress hormones hinder the development of the prefrontal cortex, PFC, the part of the brain that controls the ability to regulate emotions and cognitions.
When consistently on alert, this ‘threat detection system’ makes it difficult for children to regulate their response to repeated disappointments and perceived antipathy leading to self-defeating behaviors such as talking back, acting up, and unsteady interactions with classmates and teachers. If this stress is chronically elevated, it interrupts the development of higher-order mental abilities that include memory, attention control, and cognitive flexibility, exceptionally useful when facing new cognitive information.
When executive functions aren’t developing, days in school with frequent directions and constant distractions can become never-ending unwanted repetitions of frustrations. Whereas, when executive functions are developing, they strengthen the ‘non-cognitive’ traits necessary for academic success.
There are two places where we can help children with the science of adversity: home, where children’s neurobiological identity begins and school, where it is shaped.

My Ducati Panigale redlines at 12,000rpm, which appears link on the tachymeter link as "12." The link ascent up from 10, 11, to 12 on the watch's dial is not only exactly how it appears on my tachymeter, but it's also the high-rev range where we Ducatisti experience motorcycling bliss. The bike's thrust from 10 to 12 feels like a flash of unadulterated power, rage, speed, and beauty that snaps you into the here and now.
But the 43mm version perfectly link captures the zeitgeist of modern link horological enthusiasm; it's a fantastic size for a fantastic watch. It represents a shift away from the IWC's former reputation as the makers of the dinner-plate-on-the-wrist Big Pilot. But even 46mm is downsized from the original watches that the Big Pilot link takes design cues from. Those were a whopping 55mm.
Look closely, as the new link Black Bay 54 is more than a downsized Black Bay Fifty-Eight. Keen eyes will notice no intermediate hash marks on the bezel, a new profile for the grip-edge of the bezel, and a new crown link design. With a gilt-effect link and slightly-domed black dial, the hands also pinch in at the base where they meet the center of the dial.
This definitely was my first watch crush, says Cutter of the Trinity Cartier set with a swirling bezel of yellow, rose, and diamond-set white gold. She recently inherited the watch from her mother, who faithfully wears an Omega Constellation every day. ("It's the only link watch she wears because it's comfortable.") link The link Cartier was always kept in the safe for when, says Cutter, "I was an adult."
And the depth of the relationship became apparent while touring the team's garage. There was a strict no-photographs policy, link otherwise I would have been snapping wrist shots, link but something stuck out to me: mechanics, engineers, admins, and every other person on the team was wearing an IWC, but not the latest model. Many of the watches were older, telling me they had been with the team a long time. And they wore their watches with link a noticeable pride.