Infancy to Early Childhood: Genetic and Environmental Influences on Developmental Change

by Robert N. Emde (Editor), John K. Hewitt (Editor)

Overview

Behavioral genetics is a fast-growing, multidisciplinary field which attempts to explain the influence of genetic and environmental factors on behavior through the lifespan. The preferred investigative technique for teasing out the differences between genetics and the environment is the longitudinal twin study. This book is the first complete publication from the MacArthur Longitudinal Twin Study (MALTS) that is by far the most ambitious and comprehensive longitudinal twin study to date. The goal of such an in-depth study was not to merely provide thorough descriptions of developmental change between the ages of one and three years, but to offer an original theoretical framework that explains how change occurs in different domains and how genetics and the environment influence those changes. This rigorous study will set the agenda for developmental psychology and behavioral genetics for decades to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190284718
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/19/2001
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver

University of Colorado, Boulder

Table of Contents

ContributorsPart I. Introduction1. The Dynamics of Development in a Unique Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Robert N. Emde2. The Twin Method: What We Can Learn from a Longitudinal Study, John K. Hewitt et al3. The Conduct of the Study: sample and Procedures, Joann L. Robinson et alPart II. Temperament4. The Structure of Teperament, Jerome Kagan5. Extremes Analyses of Observed Teperament Dimensions, Beth Manke et al6. Parental Ratings of Teperament in Twins, Kimberly J. Saudino and Stacey S. Cherny7. Sources of Continuity and Change in Observed Temperament, Kimberly J. Saudino and Stacey S. Cherny8. Behavioral inhibition and Related Temperaments, Jerome Kagan and Kimberly J. SaudinoPart III Emotion9. Emotional Development in the Twin Study, Joan L. Robinson and Robert N. Emde10. Reactions to Restraint and Anger-Related Expressions during the Second Year, Robert N. Emde et al11. Empathy and Prosocial Patterns in Young MZ and DZ Twins: Development and Genetic and Environmental Influences, Carolyn Zahn-Waxler et al12. Dispositional Cheerfulness: Early Genetic and Environmental Influences, Joann L. Robinson et alPart IV Cognition13. Cognition Development, Congiative Abilities, and Modularity, David W. Fulker and Robert Plomin14. Experimental Assessment of Specific Cognitive Abilities during the Second Year of Life, Steven M. Wilson et al15. Continuity and Change in General Cognitive Ability from 14 to 36 Months, Stacey S. Cherny et al16. Language and Cognition, Susan Young et alPart V. Environmental Contributions and Cross-Domain Integrations17. Context and Specificity of Individual Differences and Their Origins, Robert N. Emde18. Mothers' Perceptions of Differential Treatment of Infat Twins, Shirly McGuire and Anne-Catherine Roch-Levecq19. Relationship Context as a Moderator of Sources of Individual Differences in Empathic Development, Joann L. Robinson20. The Development of Observed Shyness from 14 to 20 Months: Shyness in Context, Stacey S. Cherny21. Perinatal Effects on General Cognitive Ability, Weight, Height and Temperament, Charles Martin and Scott Hershberger22. Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index, Marcie L. Chambers et al23. Temperament, Mental Development, and Language in the Transition from Infancy to Early Childhood, Lorraine F. Kubicek24. Early Predictors of Problem Behavior at Age Four, Stephanie Schmitz et alPart VI Major Themes and Conclusions25. An Experiment in Collaborative Science, Robert Plomin et alIndex

Editorial Reviews

The first published volume resulting from the MacArthur Longitudinal Twin Study, a collaboration of developmental scientists and behavioral geneticists. They offer an original theoretical framework explaining how changes occur in different domains, and how genetics and the environment influence those changes. Among their findings are that development is multifaceted, genetic and environmental influences vary in magnitude and type depending on the behavior, and genetic factors largely account for continuity while non-shared environmental factors account for change. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"The first published volume resulting from the MacArthur Longitudinal Twin Study, a collaboration of developmental scientists and behavioral geneticists. They offer an original theoretical framework explaining how changes occur in different domains, and how genetics and the environment influence those changes. Among their findings are that development is multifaceted, genetic and environmental influences vary in magnitude and type depending on the behavior, and genetic factors largely account for continuity while non-shared environmental factors account for change."—SciTech Book News

"In this first volume resulting from the MacArthur Longitudinal Twin Study (MLTS), Emde and Hewitt adeptly organized reams of data comparing genetic and environmental influences on developmental changes into six parts and 25 succinct chapters. . .Despite the many contributors to this work (most respected in the field) and the highly technical nature of some of the analyses, the book is a superb illustration of how sound research is conducted and written about. Graduate students through professionals."—CHOICE

From the Publisher