Nature, nurture, and psychopathology: A new look at an old topic

1991 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Rutter
Keyword(s):  
No Value ◽  
Rare Diseases ◽  
Developmental Psychopathology ◽  
Behavioral Genetics ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Normal Variation ◽  
Major Genes ◽  
Nature And Nurture ◽  
Genetic Strategies

AbstractThe important implications for developmental psychopathology that derive from advances in psychiatric and behavioral genetics are discussed in relation to a series of mistaken stereotypes: that strong effects mean that environmental influences must be unimportant; that genes provide a limit to potential; that genetic strategies are of no value for studying environmental influences; that nature and nurture are separate; that genes for serious diseases are necessarily bad; that diseases have nothing to do with normal variation; that genetic findings will not help identify diseases; that genetic influences diminish with age; that disorders that run in families must be genetic; that disorders that seem not to run in families cannot be genetic; and that single major genes lead only to specific rare diseases that follow a Mendelian pattern. The reasons why these stereotypes are mistaken are considered in relation to genetic concepts and findings.

Nature, nurture, and psychopathology: A new look at an old topic

1991 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-136
Author(s):  
Michael Rutter
Keyword(s):  
No Value ◽  
Rare Diseases ◽  
Developmental Psychopathology ◽  
Behavioral Genetics ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Normal Variation ◽  
Major Genes ◽  
Nature And Nurture ◽  
Genetic Strategies

AbstractThe important implications for developmental psychopathology that derive from advances in psychiatric and behavioral genetics are discussed in relation to a series of mistaken stereotypes: that strong effects mean that environmental influences must be unimportant; that genes provide a limit to potential; that genetic strategies are of no value for studying environmental influences; that nature and nurture are separate; that genes for serious diseases are necessarily bad; that diseases have nothing to do with normal variation; that genetic findings will not help identify diseases; that genetic influences diminish with age; that disorders that run in families must be genetic; that disorders that seem not to run in families cannot be genetic; and that single major genes lead only to specific rare diseases that follow a Mendelian pattern. The reasons why these stereotypes are mistaken are considered in relation to genetic concepts and findings.

The nature and nurture of intelligence and motivation in the origins of sex differences in elementary school achievement

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank M. Spinath ◽  
Birgit Spinath ◽  
Robert Plomin
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
School Achievement ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Achievement Scores ◽  
Self Perceptions ◽  
Intrinsic Values ◽  
Nature And Nurture

This study investigates the roles of intelligence and school‐related motivation in sex differences in school achievement and whether there are sex differences in the genetic and environmental influences on these variables. In a sample of 4464 9‐year‐old twins, intelligence, ablility self‐perceptions, intrinsic values and achievement scores were assessed. Girls outperformed boys in English and had better corresponding ability self‐perceptions, whereas in Math boys showed better attainment and ability self‐perceptions. For both sexes and all three domains, intelligence was the strongest predictor of achievement and ability self‐perceptions added incrementally to the prediction. Evidence of genetic influences was found for all measures but shared environmental influences were not important. These findings challenge some widely held assumptions about the development of children's motivation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

scholarly journals Genetic and environmental influences on the codevelopment among borderline personality disorder traits, major depression symptoms, and substance use disorder symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina A. Bornovalova ◽  
Brad Verhulst ◽  
Troy Webber ◽  
Matt McGue ◽  
William G. Iacono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Substance Use Disorder ◽  
Developmental Psychopathology ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Rate Of Increase

AbstractAlthough borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits decline from adolescence to adulthood, comorbid psychopathology such as symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), and drug use disorders (DUDs) likely disrupt this normative decline. Using a longitudinal sample of female twins (N = 1,763), we examined if levels of BPD traits were correlated with changes in MDD, AUD, and DUD symptoms from ages 14 to 24. A parallel process biometric latent growth model examined the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the relationships between developmental components of these phenotypes. Higher BPD trait levels predicted a greater rate of increase in AUD and DUD symptoms, and higher AUD and DUD symptoms predicted a slower rate of decline of BPD traits from ages 14 to 24. Common genetic influences accounted for the associations between BPD traits and each disorder, as well as the interrelationships of AUD and DUD symptoms. Both genetic and nonshared environmental influences accounted for the correlated levels between BPD traits and MDD symptoms, but solely environmental influences accounted for the correlated changes between the two over time. Results indicate that higher levels of BPD traits may contribute to an earlier onset and faster escalation of AUD and DUD symptoms, and substance use problems slow the normative decline in BPD traits. Overall, our data suggests that primarily genetic influences contribute to the comorbidity between BPD features and substance use disorder symptoms. We discuss our data in the context of two major theories of developmental psychopathology and comorbidity.

scholarly journals WHY DO PEOPLE DIFFER IN THEIR ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION? A NUCLEAR TWIN FAMILY STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Klassen ◽  
Eike F. Eifler ◽  
Anke Hufer ◽  
Rainer Riemann
Keyword(s):  
Achievement Motivation ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Parental Home ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Home And School

Although many previous studies have emphasized the role of environmental factors, such as parental home and school environment, on achievement motivation, classical twin studies suggest that both additive genetic influences and non-shared environmental influences explain interindividual differences in achievement motivation. By applying a Nuclear Twin Family Design on the data of the German nationally representative of TwinLife study, we analyzed genetic and environmental influences on achievement motivation in adolescents and young adults. As expected, the results provided evidence for the impact of additive genetic variation, non-additive genetic influences, as well as twin specific shared environmental influences. The largest amount of variance was attributed to non-shared environmental influences, showing the importance of individual experiences in forming differences in achievement motivation. Overall, we suggest a revision of models and theories that explain variation in achievement motivation by differences in familial socialization only.

Heredity and Environment in Phoneme Articulation: Hereditary and Environmental Contributions to Articulation Proficiency

1995 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-73
Author(s):  
W. E. Dixon ◽  
A. P. Matheny ◽  
S. R. Mohr
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Behavioral Genetics ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Factor Scores ◽  
Genetic Components ◽  
Sources Of Variation ◽  
Regression Techniques ◽  
The Individual

AbstractLarge twin samples and recent applications of multiple regression techniques to behavioral genetics methodology makes possible evaluation of genetic and environmental contributions to the articulation proficiency of individual phonemes. Factor analysis of the articulation scores from 256 MZ and DZ twins and 124 of their non-twin siblings (all children ranged from 2; 11 to 9; 8 years) were conducted to reduce a 50-item articulation test to a more manageable set of five articulation factors. The twins' factor scores were then analyzed using multiple regression procedures to determine the extent to which the individual factors resulted from genetic and/or environmental influences. The /r/ and /∫, t∫, dƺ/ factors were found to have strong genetic components, while the /l, j, w/ factor was found to be strongly influenced by environmental sources of variation.

The Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development (NEAD) Project: A Longitudinal Family Study of Twins and Siblings from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenae M. Neiderhiser ◽  
David Reiss ◽  
E. Mavis Hetherington
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Development ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Late Adolescence ◽  
Adolescent Adjustment ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Family Interactions ◽  
Nonshared Environment

AbstractThe Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development (NEAD) project is a longitudinal study of twins/siblings and parents that has been assessed 3 times: middle adolescence, late adolescence and young adulthood (N = 720 families at Time 1). Siblings varied in degree of genetic relatedness including identical twins, fraternal twins, full siblings, half siblings and genetically unrelated (or step) siblings. There were also two family types: nondivorced and step. A multimeasure, multirater approach was taken in NEAD, with data collected from all participants (2 twins or siblings, mother and father) as well as from coded videotaped observations of family interactions. Detailed assessments of family relationships, adolescent adjustment and competence were collected at all 3 times. The original aim of NEAD was to identify systematic sources of nonshared environmental influences that contribute to differences among family members. Although systematic sources of nonshared environmental influences were not found in NEAD, three major sets of findings emerged: (1) genetic influences on family relationships and on associations between family relationships and adolescent adjustment; (2) genetic and environmental influences on adolescent adjustment, comorbidity and stability and change in adolescent adjustment from middle to late adolescence; and (3) genetic influences on relationships outside the family.

Can prevention trials test theories of etiology?

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGE W. HOWE ◽  
DAVID REISS ◽  
JONGIL YUH
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Developmental Psychopathology ◽  
Behavioral Genetics ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Prevention Research ◽  
Protective Mechanisms ◽  
Developmental Progression ◽  
Testing Theory ◽  
Prevention Trials

This paper addresses the issue of whether prevention research methods, particularly those involving randomized prevention trials, can be used to test theories concerning the etiology of psychopathology. Based on recent empirical and theoretical work in developmental psychopathology, three aspects of etiologic theory are discussed: risk and protective mechanisms, the integration of environmental and genetic factors, and patterns of developmental progression in psychopathology across the life span. It is suggested that integration of prevention trial methods with methods from passive correlational designs, behavioral genetics, and longitudinal studies allows for unique opportunities to test hypotheses about etiology. Empirical literature on the development and prevention of internalizing disorders, particularly depression, is presented to support this argument. Limitations of prevention trials for testing theory are also reviewed.

Genetic and environmental influences on pupil performances

Twin Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siv Fischbein ◽  
Ruth Guttman ◽  
Michael Nathan
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Educational Setting ◽  
Time Points ◽  
A Current ◽  
Israeli Kibbutz

AbstractThe results presented in this paper are part of a current comparative study of genetic and environmental influences in three educational settings: Stockholm, Jerusalem and the Israeli kibbutz. We specifically wanted to investigate whether a more restrictive educational setting would decrease genetic influences. Here we report on comparisons of cognitive performance measures at several time points for twins/controls, boys/girls and within-pair similarity in MZ, DZ and controls. The tests used were the Raven Progressive Matrices, verbal, reading comprehension and arithmetic. The results show no differences between twins and controls, whilst gender differences seem to be smallest in the Stockholm sample and largest in Jerusalem. A pattern of genetic influences on cognitive performance was also clearly visible in Jerusalem. In Stockholm shared environmental influences at home and at school seemed even stronger than in the kibbutz. No consistent differences were found between tests or occasions.

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