Adversity shaped our evolution as a species. People raised in it may have underrecognized strengths because of it.

Meriah DeJoseph, a developmental psychologist at the University of Denver, is studying the unique strengths that people may develop while growing up in difficult circumstances. In college, she became intrigued by research on individuals who come from low-income backgrounds, but found the early studies focused too heavily on the risks associated with poverty.

DeJoseph realized that these studies often overlooked the strengths exhibited by people who grew up in adversity, such as creative problem-solving and social intelligence.

This led her to believe that there was more to say about the positive aspects of growing up in challenging environments. DeJoseph and a few other researchers are now working to understand the full range of changes that occur when people are raised in dangerous, deprived, or unpredictable situations. They aim to capture the full picture, rather than just focusing on the hardships and risks.

However, DeJoseph emphasizes that growing up in poverty is undoubtedly difficult and can lead to numerous challenges and increased risks. The researchers are careful to acknowledge that adversity can be damaging and even traumatic. Nevertheless, they believe that an understanding of the specialized skills individuals may develop in these environments could eventually help to close the achievement gaps between those who faced adversity and those who did not.