While Kobasa (1979) described hardiness in terms of three personality tendencies (commitment, control and challenge), it is more of a general style, a holistic pattern rather than individual, discrete traits. In Adler’s (1956) terms, hardiness would be a “worldview” or broad framework that people apply to interpret their entire experience. The hardy outlook or style includes cognitive, emotional and behavioral features, and has been found to characterize people who stay healthy under stress, in contrast to those who develop stress-related health and performance problems.

The concept of hardiness is theoretically grounded in the work of existential philosophers and psychologists (Kobasa & Maddi, 1977) such as Heidegger (1986), Frankl (1960), and Binswanger (1963).  It is a broad, generalized perspective that affects how one views the self, others, work, and even the physical world (in existential terms, umwelt, the “around” or physical world;  mitwelt, the “with” or social  world,  and eigenwelt, the world of the self).  People high in hardiness see life as meaningful and worthwhile, even though it is sometimes painful and disappointing.  The commitment facet of hardiness builds on the work of Antonovsky (1974), whose “sense of coherence” entails commitment and engagement with others, which lends resistance to the ill effects of stress. White’s (1959) ideas on self-awareness and striving for competence also influenced Kobasa’s  and Maddi’s understanding of commitment. Hardiness-commitment provides a sense of internal balance and confidence which is important for realistic assessment of stressful and threatening situations. 

The control facet of hardiness derives primarily from Rotter’s concept of locus of control (Rotter, Seeman & Liverant, 1962), and Lefcourt (1973) on control beliefs.  Kobasa’s ideas on control were also influenced by experimental research showing that when subjects have control over aversive stimuli, the stress effects are substantially reduced (eg., Averill, 1973; Seligman, 1975). 

In the hardiness concept, challenge involves an appreciation for variety and change in the environment, and a motivation to learn and grow by trying new things. Early theoretical influences on challenge can be seen in Fiske & Maddi (1961) on variety in experience, and Maddi (1967) on engagement vs. alienation.  Maddi used the term "ideal identity" to describe the person who lives a vigorous and proactive life, with an abiding sense of meaning and purpose, and a belief in his or her own ability to influence things. This is contrasted with the “existential neurotic,” who shies away from change, seeking security, sameness and predictability in the environment.  Although Maddi wasn’t using the term “hardiness” at the time, one can see the roots of the idea in these early works. 

Today, hardiness is often referred to as a “mindset,” and there is an extensive body of research indicating that people who approach life with a hardiness mindset are not only more resilient under stress, but often are able to grow and get better in the aftermath of stressful encounters (Stein & Bartone, 2020). Hardy people are curious, eager to learn, and quick to adapt to new and surprising conditions.