Genes, Criminal Behavior Linked in Study
The scientists based their research on Dr. Terrie Moffitt’s theory that people will generally fall into three different types: life-course persistent offenders (criminals for ...
Genomes & Psychology
Genomes are obviously important in determining who we are and what our health risks might be, but genes aren't everything – far from it. Our genes interact as their expression is shaped in complex ways by our way of life, our personal experiences and the environments we either find ourselves in or choose. That raises deep questions that scientists have only been able to begin to address in the last decade: Where do people's personalities come from? And how do genetics and the environment combine to convey either risk or resilience in the face of life's stresses?
Ongoing work by IGSP researchers is exploring these questions through longitudinal studies that have tracked the physical and mental health and lifestyles of individuals from the time they were young children into adulthood. Those efforts have uncovered links between specific genetic mutations along with maltreatment during childhood and elevated rates of depression, anti-social behavior, and health problems such as elevated inflammation and heart disease. Others are taking a different approach, applying modern molecular genetics together with neuroimaging methods to identify specific biological pathways that help shape individual differences in temperament and personality, as well as neuropsychiatric disease.
These efforts have been recognized for their potential to effect educational and social policy. They may also lead to the development of more effective, individually tailored treatments or preventive measures for mental disorders.
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Related Publications
A prospective longitudinal study of children's theory of mind and adolescent involvement in bullying
A study reported in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry by Terrie Moffitt and colleagues concludes that identifying and supporting children with poor "theory of ...
Family History and Oral Health: Findings from the Dunedin Study
In Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi are collaborators on a study showing that family/parental history of oral health is a valid ...
Genetic and Hormonal Sensitivity to Threat: Testing a Serotonin Transporter Genotype x Testosterone Interaction
In Psychoneuroendocrinology, Ahmad Hariri is a collaborator on a study showing a synergistic relationship between a serotonin transporter genotype and testosterone on stress ...
Interaction of FKBP5 Gene Variants and Adverse Life Events in Predicting Depression Onset: Results From a 10-Year Prospective Community Study
In The American Journal of Psychiatry, Avshalom Caspi and Terrie Moffitt are coauthors on a study connecting variation in the main receptor of the stress hormone system, ...
