Final answer:
Resilience best illustrates the ability of children who have experienced neglect or abuse to lead meaningful lives, demonstrating the capability to overcome adverse circumstances and thrive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that best illustrates the concept of children who experience parental neglect or abuse yet go on to lead socially meaningful and productive lives is resilience. Resilience refers to the ability to adapt and recover from adversity or difficult experiences. While some individuals who experience child abuse may encounter challenges such as physical, mental, and emotional health issues, including a higher predisposition to psychiatric disorders, not all individuals face these difficulties. About 80 percent of those abused meet the criteria for psychiatric disorders by age twenty-one.
However, a significant proportion illustrates resilience by overcoming these challenges and leading healthy and functional lives. Factors contributing to resilience include social support, positive relationships, and internal coping mechanisms. It's important to note that resilience does not mean that a person does not experience difficulty or distress but rather that they find ways to persevere and thrive despite these challenges.
Resilience best illustrates how children who have faced neglect or abuse can still embark on fulfilling and productive lives, overcoming adversity through inner strength and often with the support of positive relationships and environments.