Nature, Nurture, and the Transition to Early Adolescence

by Stephen A. Petrill (Editor), Robert Plomin (Editor), John C. DeFries (Editor), John K. Hewitt (Editor)

Overview

In introducing 18 contributed chapters, Petrill (who has taught at Wesleyan U. and Pennsylvania State U.), along with US and UK peers, notes that research on adolescent development was boosted in 1996, when a major journal in the field pointed out the need for studying interactive biopsychosocial processes. In this vein, the volume reports the findings for ages 9-12 from the longitudinal Colorado Adoption Project (CAP), which followed a sample of adopted and non-adopted children and their families. The editors conclude that CAP provides new insights into the genotype- environment correlation. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195348040
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/27/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Pennsylvania State University

Institute of Psychiatry, London

Both at Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado

Table of Contents

Contributors1. Nature, Nurture, and Adolescent Development: An Introduction, Stephen A. Petrill, Robert Plomin, John C. DeFries, and John K. Hewitt2. Developmental Analysis of IQ, E. G. Bishop, Stacey S. Cherny, and John K. Hewitt3. Multivariate Parent-Offspring Analyses of Specific Cognitive Abilities, Maricela Alarcón, Robert Plomin, Robin P. Corley, and John C. DeFries4. Etiology of the Stability of Reading Performance from 7 to 12 Years of Age and Its Possible Mediation by IQ, Sally J. Wadsworth and John C. DeFries5. Memory Ability during Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence in the Colorado Adoption Project, Stephen A. Petrill and Sally-Ann Rhea6. Somatic Complaints from Early Childhood to Early Adolescence, Nicholas Giardino and Richard Rende7. Teacher and Mother Ratings of Attention Problems, Stephanie Schmitz8. Adopted and Nonadopted Adolescents' Adjustment, Alessandra C. Iervolino9. Stability and Change in Internalizing Problems in the Transition to Early Adolescence: Genetic and Environmental Influences, Kirby Deater-Deckard and Shirley McGuire10. Loneliness during the Transition to Early Adolescence, Shirley McGuire and Jeanie Clifford11. Genetic Influences on Temperament in Early Adolescence: A Multimethod Perspective, Jeffrey R. Gagne, Kimberly J. Saudino, and Stacey S. Cherny12. Links between Temperament and Behavior Problems in Early Adolescence, Stephanie Schmitz and Kimberly J. Saudino13. Using the Social Relations Model to Examine Correlates of Adolescent Humor: The Role of Temperament and Well-Being, Beth Manke and Coleen Carlson14. Effects of Prenatal Smoking on 12-Year-Old Children's Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes, Michelle Ward and Laura A. Baker15. A Genetic Analysis of Extremes in Externalizing Behavioral Problems and Negative Family Environments, Kirby Deater-Deckard16. Maternal Reports of Differential Treatment during Early Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study of Genetic Influences and Links to Child Well-Being, Rebecca Hobson, Beth Manke, and Shirley McGuire17. Genetic Influences on Life Events in Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence, Kimberly J. Saudino, Jeffrey R. Gagne, and Madeline Becker18. The Developmental Trajectory of Genotype-Environment Correlation in Early Adolescence, Erica L. Spotts and Jenae M. Neiderhiser19. Conclusions, Stephen A. Petrill, Robert Plomin, John C. DeFries, and John K. HewittNames IndexSubject Index

Editorial Reviews

3 Stars from Doody

Reviewer: Gary B Kaniuk, PsyD (Cermak Health Services)
Description: This is the fourth book in a series describing results from the Colorado Adoption Project (CAP), which began in 1975 and followed a sample of adopted and nonadopted children and their families. This volume focuses on CAP results from ages 9 to 12.
Purpose: According to the editors, the book "presents the segment of research from the ongoing Colorado Adoption Project (CAP) that considers the role of genes and environments in early adolescent cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, as well as the social interactions associated with these developing competencies." The book meets these worthy objectives.
Audience: The editors do not really say who the target audience is, but it appears that researchers in adolescent development would benefit the most. The editors and contributors are credible authorities, because they were all involved in the research study in one way or another.
Features: The book covers the results of the project, including cognitive (intelligence, memory, reading), physical (somatic complaints, attention problems), social (adjustment, loneliness, social relations), and emotional (temperament, behavior problems). It takes into consideration the role of genetics and environment (nature vs. nurture). The book presents research results in all their glory. However, this makes it difficult to read because the results are highlighted at the expense of the discussion of what it all really means.
Assessment: The book addresses crucial issues in adolescent development through the presentation of the results of a longitudinal study comparing adoptive vs. nonadoptive children and families. However, I was hoping for a better explanation of what the results really mean, which gets lost in all the statistical analyses. This is an excellent volume for the avid researcher, but as a psychologist who is involved mostly in clinical work, I found it difficult to get to the information I really wanted to see.

Doody's Review Service