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Nature-nurture reconceptualized in developmental perspective: a bioecological model
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-4401.
Psychological Review
|October 1, 1994
Summary
This study introduces a new model for behavioral genetics, accounting for environmental influences and gene-environment interactions. It suggests heritability estimates increase with environmental factors, highlighting the potential to enhance genetic expression through supportive environments.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- The established behavioral genetics paradigm has limitations in explaining gene-environment interactions.
- Anastasi's (1958) challenge highlighted the need for a more comprehensive model.
- Existing models often overlook nonadditive synergistic effects and direct environmental measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an empirically testable theoretical model that expands the behavioral genetics paradigm.
- To incorporate nonadditive synergistic effects and proximal processes (organism-environment interaction mechanisms).
- To investigate the relationship between proximal processes and heritability estimates.
Main Methods:
- Development of a theoretical model integrating genetic and environmental factors.
- Inclusion of direct measures of the environment and proximal processes.
- Hypothesizing the impact of proximal processes on heritability (h2) estimates.
Main Results:
- Heritability estimates (h2) are hypothesized to increase with the magnitude of proximal processes.
- Heritability is shown to measure the proportion of variation due to actualized genetic potential.
- The degree of nonactualized genetic potential remains an unknown factor.
Conclusions:
- The proposed model offers a more nuanced understanding of genotype-phenotype transformation.
- Enhancing proximal processes and environments can increase the actualization of genetic potentials.
- This framework allows for a deeper exploration of developmental competence and individual differences.