Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
07:15
Social Defeat Stress Model for Adolescent C57BL/6 Male and Female Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
Cumulative-genetic plasticity, parenting and adolescent self-regulation
1Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues, Birkbeck University of London, UK. j.belsky@bbk.ac.uk
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|November 3, 2010
Summary
Adolescent males with more genetic plasticity alleles show greater self-regulation with supportive parenting and less with unsupportive parenting. This highlights genetic influence on adolescent responses to parenting.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Self-regulation (emotional, cognitive, behavioral) is crucial for development.
- Parenting significantly influences adolescent self-regulation.
- The differential-susceptibility hypothesis posits that genetic "plasticity alleles" moderate parenting effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the differential-susceptibility hypothesis in adolescents.
- To investigate how cumulative genetic plasticity influences responses to parenting.
- To examine sex differences in gene-environment interactions for self-regulation.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 1586 adolescents from the Add Health study.
- Assessed cumulative genetic plasticity based on 5 "plasticity alleles" (DAT1, DRD2, DRD4, 5HTTLPR, MAOA).
- Evaluated the moderating effect of genetic plasticity on parenting (supportive/unsupportive) on adolescent self-regulation.
Main Results:
- Males with more plasticity alleles showed increased self-regulation under supportive parenting.
- Males with more plasticity alleles showed decreased self-regulation under unsupportive parenting.
- These effects were not observed in females, suggesting sex-specific gene-environment interactions.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent males' susceptibility to parenting for self-regulation varies genetically.
- Findings may involve epistatic and/or epigenetic mechanisms.
- Future research should composite candidate genes and examine both positive/negative outcomes and conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Self-Regulation
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:18Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.