Last Updated on July 7, 2023 by Mike Robinson

What is Adversity Quotient

The human mind is said to be the most sophisticated machine in existence. Psychologists have always sought to understand why we act or think the way we do. There have never been satisfactory explanations for this complicated field of research. Humans have varying levels of mental capacity. We can evaluate many mental capabilities of the human mind by using different tests, and these abilities directly influence behavior. Some of these are IQ(intelligence quotient) tests, EQ (emotional intelligence)  tests, personality tests, achievement tests, aptitude tests, and so on. AQ, which stands for “adversity quotient,” is a relatively new way to measure this. AQ predicts a person’s success in the face of adversity. 

Here are key areas the AQ measures:

• How a person acts in a challenging situation
• Do they take control of the issue
• Can they find the correct source of the problem?
• Whether they take full ownership of the situation.
• Whether they try to limit the effects of adversity
• How optimistic are they that the adversity will eventually end?

In 1997, Dr. Paul G. Stoltz made AQ a field of study. This article goes into detail about what AQ is, how it is different from IQ and EQ, the dimensions of AQ, the building blocks of AQ, the levels of adversity, how AQ is different from resilience and hardiness, AQ in organizations, research done on AQ, and how to improve your own and other people’s AQ.

What are Adversity Quotients? Adversity Quotient shows how well a person can handle and solve problems. Dr. Paul G. Stoltz was the first person to study AQ. This field of study began in 1997. Adversity Quotient also tells us if we can do better than expected or if we will fall short. AQ can describe how we will act in difficult situations. AQ can tell how strong and determined a person is and can be.

We already know we use AQ  to make teams, relationships, families, communities, cultures, societies, and organizations better at what they do.

Comparing AQ against IQ and EQ

People have always thought IQ, or the intelligence quotient was the best way to measure intelligence. Predicting a person’s chances of success has always been taken for granted. Even so, there are a lot of intelligent people who haven’t always done well in life. It means that IQ alone isn’t enough to do well.

Consistently successful people must have something else going for them besides a high IQ. Then “EQ,” or emotional quotient or emotional intelligence, came along.

EQ measures how well you can control your emotions and how well you can understand how other people feel. It also measures how self-aware you are, how well you can manage your impulses, how persistent you are, and how well you can get along with others.

A high intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) can increase a person’s chances of success since success requires both intellectual and emotional skills. 

AQ is something else that is different from these two. It can help explain why some people keep trying hard even when things are hard. But those with a high intelligence quotient and who are emotionally stable still fail and give up.

What Can  AQ Predict? 

AQ is useful for predicting:

• Performance- energy-motivation-empowerment
• Creativity-Productivity-Learning-Energy
• Hope-happiness-vitality-emotional health
• Physical health-persistence-resilience
• Attitude-longevity-response to change

The 3 Levels of Adversity

There are three main levels of adversity you will face during your life. Societal Adversity is located at the top. Workplace Adversity is in the middle level, while Individual Adversity is at the bottom.

Societal Adversity

The way people live and work is changing quickly. Living in this society makes us feel weak. Drug abuse, alcoholism, human trafficking, child abuse, teen pregnancy, teen suicides, domestic violence, sexual assaults, and the decline of morality are all global social problems.

Technology and the flood of information have made things worse. Children and teens spend too much time on TV, the internet, and other entertainment devices.

These devices pull them away from their families and the values they can learn from their parents and grandparents. Couples are each pursuing their own careers, which not only cuts into the time they used to spend with their kids but also with each other. This increases the divorce rate because husbands and wives don’t have much time to spend together.

Adversity in the Workplace

It’s been said that the only thing that stays the same is change. That is what individuals throughout the world are experiencing at work. The feeling among employees is that they must always be alert to adapt to their surroundings.

The era of social security, lifetime employment, regular salary and bonuses, pensions, and old age benefits is over. As a result of pink slips, pay reductions made in the name of cost-cutting, downsizing, restructuring, reengineering, mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, hyper-competition, etc., today’s workers live in a very unstable environment.

Individual Adversity

Adversity manifests at the social level, creeps into the workplace, and burdens the individual. Any systemic tragedy eventually affects individuals as well. For instance, hate crimes, a social evil, result in beatings or fatalities of people, leaving behind grieving and bitter families.

So, we can say that each person is vulnerable to and affected by societal problems, even if he or she didn’t cause those problems in the first place.

Categories of Adversity

Adversity can be personal and relative. Hardships can also be universal because everyone faces different problems and deals with them differently. One person’s problems may not be as bad as someone else’s. But no matter how big or small, everyone has problems, challenges, and hard times.

The two categories of adversity are inner adversity and outer adversity.

Examples of Inner Adversity

• Lack of confidence
• Sluggishness
• Fear, anxiety, loneliness, and self-doubt
• Uncertainty, sadness, and self-loathing
• Physical pain, exhaustion, and poor health. 
• Sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Examples of Outer Adversity

• Disease
• Unemployment
• Someone betrays your trust.
• A natural disaster strikes.
• A flight cancellation occurs.
• An economic slump.
• Your best friend or close family member dies.

 However, if we examine the situation closely, we might conclude that external misfortune usually brings about internal suffering since people are not immune to their surroundings. We are directly impacted by what occurs at home, work, club, family gatherings, or our environment.

Benefits of Adversity 

At times, adversity may be beneficial. In their 2010 study, Seery, Holman, and Silver found that accumulated hardship does seem to strengthen us—within certain bounds. Their research indicates that those who have encountered a few “adverse occurrences” but not many are the most resilient.

People who have undergone several traumas are not a cheerful lot and those who have not experienced adversity struggle when trouble does strike.

Additionally, those who had experienced some lifetime hardships were less influenced by current unpleasant occurrences. These findings imply that what doesn’t kill us could actually make us stronger if done in moderation.

The Four Dimensions of AQ

There are four dimensions in Adversity Quotient. The abbreviation for these four dimensions is CO2 RE. The four dimensions work together to define a person’s AQ. It is impossible to determine a person’s weakest area of adversity reaction from their total AQ score.

To identify a person’s personality’s strong and weak points, it is necessary to study and comprehend each of the four dimensions separately.

The following outlines these four dimensions:

“C” represents control.

This factor reveals how much power a person feels they have over a challenging circumstance. Since measuring real control is almost impossible, Stoltz claims that the word “perceive” is employed instead.

The idea of control is significantly more significant since it represents the person’s will to exert control over a challenging circumstance. There are many instances where one feels helpless to change the circumstances.

 O2 stands for ownership and origin.

The “Origin” dimension responds to inquiries like, “Where or what was the problem’s origin?” The “Ownership” dimension shows one’s level of ownership over the adversity’s result.

Although they appear similar at first glance, they are actually extremely distinct. Blame is connected to origin. A fair and correct amount of self-blame is necessary to foster growth in a person and ensure that he learns from his mistakes.

Even when it is not their fault, those with low origin scores frequently place all the blame on themselves. They believe they are to blame for everything that goes wrong. 

Conversely, those with a higher origin score attempt to evaluate their part in unfavorable circumstances. They attempt to consider other outside sources of hardship. The “Ownership” dimension describes how a person takes responsibility for a bad circumstance, regardless of what caused it.

Taking responsibility encourages people to behave appropriately and undo the impacts of an unfavorable circumstance. A person with a low O2 score is more likely to blame himself for the problematic circumstance and avoid accepting responsibility or ownership for finding a solution.

 “R” represents reach. 

This dimension evaluates how well a person can contain the consequences of adversity in their life. Therefore, if the person can keep the effects contained to the area where the adversity has arisen or whether they spread to other parts of the person’s life. For instance, a fight with the spouse reduces job productivity; a quarrel results in career failure, etc. These indicate a lower “R” score. 

High “R” scorers try to lessen the negative impact of the adverse event. A negative performance review won’t cause arguments at home, and a disagreement with a close friend won’t render a person’s entire existence pointless.

According to Dr. Stoltz, limiting the impact of hardship is crucial and ideal. We must learn to restrict our challenges to make life simple and easy. If we don’t, adversity may follow hardship in our lives, leading to still more difficulty, and so on. 

This is seen most often in individuals with winning personalities. People with winning personalities always appear to never have any problems in their lives. The truth is that they have as many problems as you and me, they just don’t allow those problems to affect areas of their lives.

“E” stands for perseverance.

How long will the hardship last is one of the two queries this dimension poses. And how long will the adversity’s root cause persist? High scorers on this dimension tend to be upbeat individuals. They think that every issue will finally be resolved. Adversity can never continue to have the same impact. There is always room for development. 

Building Blocks of Adversity Quotient

Cognitive psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and neurophysiology are the three foundational disciplines of AQ. These three disciplines provide a solid foundation for the research of AQ, and their conclusions corroborate those of AQ studies.

 Psychology

The area of psychology known as cognitive psychology focuses on investigating mental functions such as memory, learning, perception, and thought. Additionally, it connects to fields like neurology, philosophy, and linguistics.

The first pillar of AQ science is cognitive psychology since it contains the concept of “learned helplessness,” which is the internalization of the idea that no matter what you do, nothing will change; the situation will remain as it is. It has to do with entirely losing control, and control is the first dimension of AQ.

 Psychoneuroimmunology

The field of study known as “psychoneuroimmunology” focuses on the interaction between the immune system, the mind (psyche), and the brain (neuro).

Today, more and more medical professionals realize that one’s mental well-being significantly impacts the body’s immune system. Strong sentiments of hate, repressed rage, and frustration, for instance, can result in negative biochemical changes in the body over time. In contrast, love, joy, and peace can promote healing.

 Neurophysiology:

Neurophysiology investigates the connection between the nervous system and the brain. It explores how electrical signals from the brain that travel down nerves impact how various body components work. It aids in the search for a cure for conditions including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Leading neurophysiologists’ research demonstrates that the brain is particularly well suited for creating hardwired habits in the subconscious part of the brain. Subconscious habits, like AQ, are easily changed, resulting in the rapid formation of new habits that get stronger over time.

Conclusion:

Adversity is a reality in today’s world, and AQ is a fresh concept that might be helpful. Using the Adversity Quotient profile allows us to assess our own AQ and that of others.  One can calculate AQ in five dimensions. They are control, origin, ownership, reach, and endurance.  

Cognitive psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and neurophysiology are the foundations of AQ science. Although it might be difficult, adversity can help people realize their full potential.  Adversity may be internal or external and exists in society, work, and our personal lives. As a result, assessing and then enhancing our or others’ AQ can make life easier.

Related article: Learn How to Eliminate Self-Doubt for Good

 References:

Stoltz, Paul G. (1997). Adversity Quotient- Turning Obstacles into Opportunities, pp-7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 38, 39, 42, 43, 55, 83, 84, 106, 154, 235, 236

Stoltz, Paul G. and Weihenmayer, Eric. (2006). The Adversity Advantage- Turning everyday struggles into everyday greatness, pp-17

Stoltz, Paul G. (2000). Adversity Quotient @ Work- Make Everyday Challenges the Key to Your Success, pp-24, 221

Siegel, Karolynn and Schrimshaw, Eric W. 2000. Perceiving benefits in adversity: stress-related growth in women living with HIV/AIDS, Social Science & Medicine, Vol.
51(10),Nov 2000, pp. 1543-1554

Markman, Gideon. (2000). Adversity Quotient: The role of personal bounce-back ability in new venture formation, Human Resource Management Review, Vol.13(2),2003, pp. 281-301

Seery, Mark D., Holman, E. Alison, and Silver, Roxane Cohen. 2010. Whatever does not kill us: cumulative lifetime adversity, vulnerability, and resilience, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol 99(6), Dec 2010, pp. 1025-1041

Siegel, Karolynn and Schrimshaw, Eric W. 2000. Perceiving benefits in adversity: stress-related growth in women living with HIV/AIDS, Social Science & Medicine, Vol.
51(10),Nov 2000, pp. 1543-1554