TY - JOUR
T1 - Research Review
T2 - Genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility in child development: The case of attachment
AU - Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.
AU - Van IJzendoorn, Marinus H.
PY - 2007/12/1
Y1 - 2007/12/1
N2 - Gene-environment interactions interpreted in terms of differential susceptibility may play a large part in the explanation of individual differences in human development. Reviewing studies on the behavioral and molecular genetics of attachment, we present evidence for interactions between genetic and environmental factors explaining individual differences in attachment security and disorganization. In particular, the DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism seems associated with an increased risk for disorganized attachment, but only when combined with environmental risk. Gene-environment (G × E) interactions may be interpreted as genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility. We found support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis predicting not only more negative outcomes for susceptible children in unfavorable environments, but also positive outcomes for susceptible children in favorable environments.
AB - Gene-environment interactions interpreted in terms of differential susceptibility may play a large part in the explanation of individual differences in human development. Reviewing studies on the behavioral and molecular genetics of attachment, we present evidence for interactions between genetic and environmental factors explaining individual differences in attachment security and disorganization. In particular, the DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism seems associated with an increased risk for disorganized attachment, but only when combined with environmental risk. Gene-environment (G × E) interactions may be interpreted as genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility. We found support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis predicting not only more negative outcomes for susceptible children in unfavorable environments, but also positive outcomes for susceptible children in favorable environments.
KW - Attachment
KW - Behavior problems
KW - Differential susceptibility
KW - Disorganized attachment
KW - Dopamine
KW - Gene-environment interaction
KW - Genetics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=37149031212&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=37149031212&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01801.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01801.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 18093021
AN - SCOPUS:37149031212
VL - 48
SP - 1160
EP - 1173
JO - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
JF - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
SN - 0021-9630
IS - 12
ER -