February 2022 PMID 32672144

Hidden talents in harsh environments.

Bruce J Ellis, Laura S Abrams, Ann S Masten, Robert J Sternberg, Nim Tottenham, Willem E Frankenhuis

Mentions

33
Peak: 12 in Jul 2020
across 4 sources since Jun 2020

Extended reach

51,418
potential audience

Total likes

78

Video views

72

Mentions per month

Jun 2020 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter24 posts
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Blogs3 articles
  • News2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions predominantly support the notion that people in difficult circumstances develop hidden skills, exemplified by mentions of neurodiversity and adaptive traits. The tone is one of curiosity and advocacy, emphasizing the need to reframe deficits as strengths and highlighting ongoing research efforts.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the idea that individuals in harsh environments develop unique strengths, recognizing these talents as adaptive rather than deficits.

InterestHigh interest

Many posts show high curiosity, referencing various aspects such as neurodiversity, theory, and practical implications, indicating strong interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts reference research, labs, and theories, demonstrating a moderate level of engagement and thoughtful consideration.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions highlight the importance of shifting perspectives and fostering new research directions, suggesting a recognition of the article's potential influence.

Abstract in brief

  • Children experiencing early life adversity may develop unique problem-solving skills suited for harsh and unpredictable environments, which are considered "hidden talents."
  • The hidden talents model views stress-adapted skills as a form of adaptive intelligence that helps individuals succeed despite adversity, aligning with issues in brain development after early challenges.
  • This perspective has important implications for education, social services, and juvenile justice, offering a strength-based approach that recognizes the potential of individuals from difficult backgrounds without stigma.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
julia_a_leonard
@julia_a_leonard · X

I'll be taking over @ChangingBrain twitter this week! I'll be tweeting about children's museums, teaching children about race, hidden talents in harsh environments, and citizen science! Follow along

Jun 29, 2020 · 19 likes · 2 shares · 2,509 followers View post →
Changing Brain Lab
@ChangingBrain · X

Today I’ll be tweeting about hidden talents in harsh environments. A thread. 1/6 https://t.co/f9mXZalx39

Jul 2, 2020 · 17 likes · 6 shares · 646 followers View post →
julia_a_leonard
@julia_a_leonard · X

A kinda long thread

Jul 2, 2020 · 15 likes · 1 share · 2,509 followers View post →
Changing Brain Lab
@ChangingBrain · X

In a new line of work, researchers are exploring how children living in poverty have developed strategies that enable them to cope with their challenging circumstances - these can be viewed as “hidden talents in harsh environments” (@wfrankenhuis1). 3/6

Jul 2, 2020 · 7 likes · 646 followers View post →
Changing Brain Lab
@ChangingBrain · X

What are some other “hidden talents in harsh environments”? Tracking rapidly changing conditions, shifting among different tasks, and detecting imminent dangers. A great 5-min video explaining this here: https://t.co/tL3A2FfgKU 5/6

Jul 2, 2020 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 646 followers View post →
James McTaggart
@JamesEdPsych · X

We really need to balance the discourse, especially about children, as “fragile” “damaged” etc. Often they are adapting to circumstances with courage and skill There’s a small & growing research signal on “hidden talents” - strengths in adversity, e.g., https://t.co/WebYOC36FN https://t.co/4naJ3NTCK5

Jun 14, 2024 · 4 likes · 6,700 followers View post →

All mentions

Luis León Cárdenas Graide
@Luchostein · X

"Hidden talents in harsh environments" Bruce J Ellis, Laura S Abrams, Nim Tottenham Development and Psychopathology, 2020 https://t.co/mmvn8qMigi

Oct 21, 2025 · 1,636 followers View post →
Peripheral Minds
@PeripheralMinds · X

@THCobbPHC @DanielJHarrisUK I don't know that we would technically call it an adaptive "mutation" adaptions and trade-offs happen on many levels. There are those of us studying this as "amplification" of traits and trade-offs. You can look at my website or research "Hidden talents in Harsh Environments",

Jul 22, 2024 · 1 like · 1,569 followers View post →
James McTaggart
@JamesEdPsych · X

We really need to balance the discourse, especially about children, as “fragile” “damaged” etc. Often they are adapting to circumstances with courage and skill There’s a small & growing research signal on “hidden talents” - strengths in adversity, e.g., https://t.co/WebYOC36FN https://t.co/4naJ3NTCK5

Jun 14, 2024 · 4 likes · 6,700 followers View post →
Peripheral Minds
@PeripheralMinds · X

Unraveling Misconception: Neurodiversity and the Hidden Talents in Harsh Environments https://t.co/N8Nf6vAvwN

Jul 20, 2023 · 1 like · 1,569 followers View post →
Peripheral Minds
@PeripheralMinds · X

Hidden talents in harsh environments https://t.co/ETh4rYIp2t

Jul 5, 2023 · 1 like · 1,569 followers View post →
Peripheral Minds
@PeripheralMinds · X

@Anya33440265 @ItsEmilyKaty @AutisticGirls_ These do not have enough of a neurodiversity or evolutionary-stress framework, but an idea of what we should want the direction of research to counter "myths". Hidden Talents in Harsh Environments https://t.co/ETh4rYIp2t Dan, tulips & orchids https://t.co/W35EeEMdPU

Feb 25, 2023 · 2 likes · 1,569 followers View post →
Peripheral Minds
@PeripheralMinds · X

@TimxWatson @AnnMemmott Tim, have you visited the Hidden Talents in Harsh Environments lab and the work they are doing yet? https://t.co/0TXcsqlRT6

Jan 27, 2023 · 2 likes · 1,569 followers View post →
Richard Harper
@harpersnotes · X

Hidden talents in harsh environments. (Hmm. Interesting. Possibly important. Difficult. And by the way a major theme running through all of Frank Herbert's fiction (Dune etc.) He focused on extreme cases and used the supernatural as metaphor.)

Jun 25, 2021 · 2,235 followers View post →
Hidden Talents in Harsh Environments
@hiddentalentlab · X

@livas_stein What we need are meaningful theory and data to counteract deficit narratives. See: https://t.co/h4ZCtGRS0k

Feb 10, 2021 · 284 followers View post →
Ursula Tooley, PhD
@UTooley · X

RT @ChangingBrain: Today I’ll be tweeting about hidden talents in harsh environments. A thread. 1/6 https://t.co/f9mXZalx39

Jul 3, 2020 · 6 shares · 908 followers View post →
Austin Boroshok
@austinboroshok · X

RT @ChangingBrain: Today I’ll be tweeting about hidden talents in harsh environments. A thread. 1/6 https://t.co/f9mXZalx39

Jul 2, 2020 · 6 shares · 83 followers View post →
Melissa Dreier
@DreierMelissa · X

RT @ChangingBrain: Today I’ll be tweeting about hidden talents in harsh environments. A thread. 1/6 https://t.co/f9mXZalx39

Jul 2, 2020 · 6 shares · 914 followers View post →
Arber Tasimi
@ArberTasimi · X

RT @ChangingBrain: Today I’ll be tweeting about hidden talents in harsh environments. A thread. 1/6 https://t.co/f9mXZalx39

Jul 2, 2020 · 6 shares · 2,090 followers View post →
BOLD
@BOLD_insights · X

RT @ChangingBrain: What are some other “hidden talents in harsh environments”? Tracking rapidly changing conditions, shifting among differe…

Jul 2, 2020 · 2 shares · 15,811 followers View post →
Elise Mahaffey
@MahaffeyEM · X

RT @ChangingBrain: Today I’ll be tweeting about hidden talents in harsh environments. A thread. 1/6 https://t.co/f9mXZalx39

Jul 2, 2020 · 6 shares · 179 followers View post →
Ola Ozernov-Palchik
@olaozpa · X

RT @julia_a_leonard: A kinda long thread

Jul 2, 2020 · 1 share · 1,040 followers View post →
Juan Valle Lisboa
@LentoBio · X

Great thread with links. Hidden talents in harsh environments. https://t.co/lC26ljm8MS

Jul 2, 2020 · 1 like · 1,385 followers View post →
julia_a_leonard
@julia_a_leonard · X

A kinda long thread

Jul 2, 2020 · 15 likes · 1 share · 2,509 followers View post →
Changing Brain Lab
@ChangingBrain · X

What are some other “hidden talents in harsh environments”? Tracking rapidly changing conditions, shifting among different tasks, and detecting imminent dangers. A great 5-min video explaining this here: https://t.co/tL3A2FfgKU 5/6

Jul 2, 2020 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 646 followers View post →
Changing Brain Lab
@ChangingBrain · X

In a new line of work, researchers are exploring how children living in poverty have developed strategies that enable them to cope with their challenging circumstances - these can be viewed as “hidden talents in harsh environments” (@wfrankenhuis1). 3/6

Jul 2, 2020 · 7 likes · 646 followers View post →
Changing Brain Lab
@ChangingBrain · X

Today I’ll be tweeting about hidden talents in harsh environments. A thread. 1/6 https://t.co/f9mXZalx39

Jul 2, 2020 · 17 likes · 6 shares · 646 followers View post →
Ursula Tooley, PhD
@UTooley · X

RT @julia_a_leonard: I'll be taking over @ChangingBrain twitter this week! I'll be tweeting about children's museums, teaching children abo…

Jun 29, 2020 · 2 shares · 908 followers View post →
mekline.bsky.social
@melissaekline · X

RT @julia_a_leonard: I'll be taking over @ChangingBrain twitter this week! I'll be tweeting about children's museums, teaching children abo…

Jun 29, 2020 · 2 shares · 2,276 followers View post →
julia_a_leonard
@julia_a_leonard · X

I'll be taking over @ChangingBrain twitter this week! I'll be tweeting about children's museums, teaching children about race, hidden talents in harsh environments, and citizen science! Follow along

Jun 29, 2020 · 19 likes · 2 shares · 2,509 followers View post →