That is why they can convert a situation that is emotionally toxic for others into something emotionally nutritious for them. They thrive in situations distressing to others because they learn good lessons from bad experiences. There are many indicators that self-managed learning leads to advanced development. They are able to convert accidents or what others would regard as misfortune into good luck. The abstracted system, the pattern of behavior is what counts, not what one calls it.
Flexibility is a distinctive quality in exceptional survivors.
Their mental and emotional flexibility are derived from paradoxical personality traits. Because their personality traits are often situational, traditional personality tests are inadequate assessments. Exceptional survivors have a strong need for things to work well. They interact with people and situations in synergistic ways. They sustain in adulthood the playful curiosity of children.