The Association Between Genetic Predisposition and Parental Socialization: An Examination of Gene–Environment Correlations Using an Adoption-Based Design

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 187-209
Author(s):  
Rachel A. Knoblach ◽  
Joseph A. Schwartz ◽  
Marianna McBride ◽  
Kevin M. Beaver
Keyword(s):  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Parental Socialization ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
Extensive Body ◽  
Do So

An extensive body of research has examined the role that genetic influences play in the development of antisocial behavior. Even so, there remains much that is unknown regarding the intersections among antisocial behavior, environments, and genetic influences. The current study is designed to shed some light on this issue by examining whether gene–environment correlations are present in the lives of adopted adolescents. More specifically, this article seeks to contribute to scholarship efforts aimed at understanding whether biological parents’ antisocial behavioral phenotypes—behaviors often attributed to an increased likelihood of receiving a genetic propensity for antisocial behaviors—predict variation in environments that are experienced by their adopted-away offspring. To do so, the biological parents of adoptees were assessed and used to identify ways in which children elicit certain responses from their adoptive parents based, in part, on their genotype. Correlational analyses were calculated on a sample of adoptees (the final analytic sample ranged between n = 229 and n = 293) drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The results of the study revealed very little evidence of gene–environment correlations. The implications of these findings are considered.

scholarly journals Prosocial peer affiliation suppresses genetic influences on non-aggressive antisocial behaviors during childhood

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 821-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Burt ◽  
K. L. Klump
Keyword(s):  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Michigan State University ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
State University ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Deviant Peer Affiliation ◽  
Peer Affiliation ◽  
Gene Environment

BackgroundAvailable research has suggested that affiliation with prosocial peers reduces child and adolescent antisocial behavior. However, the etiologic mechanisms driving this association remain unclear. The current study sought to evaluate whether this association takes the form of a gene–environment interaction (G × E) in which prosocial peer affiliation acts to reduce the consequences of genetic risk for non-aggressive antisocial behavior during childhood.MethodOur sample consisted of 500 twin pairs aged 6–10 years from the Michigan State University Twin Registry (MSUTR).ResultsThe results robustly support moderation by prosocial peer affiliation. Genetic influences on non-aggressive antisocial behavior were observed to be several times larger in those with lower levels of prosocial peer affiliation than in those with higher levels of prosocial peer affiliation. This pattern of results persisted even after controlling for gene–environment correlations and deviant peer affiliation, and when restricting our analyses to those twins who shared all or nearly all of their friends.ConclusionsSuch findings not only suggest that prosocial peer affiliation moderates genetic influences on non-aggressive antisocial behaviors during childhood but also provide support for the theoretical notion that protective environmental experiences may exert their influence by promoting resilience to genetic risk.

scholarly journals Integrating simultaneous prosocial and antisocial behavior into theories of collective action

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. e1501220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Basurto ◽  
Esther Blanco ◽  
Mateja Nenadovic ◽  
Björn Vollan
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Market Integration ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Economic Diversification ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Collective Action Problems ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Multimethod Approach ◽  
Do So

Trust and cooperation constitute cornerstones of common-pool resource theory, showing that “prosocial” strategies among resource users can overcome collective action problems and lead to sustainable resource governance. Yet, antisocial behavior and especially the coexistence of prosocial and antisocial behaviors have received less attention. We broaden the analysis to include the effects of both “prosocial” and “antisocial” interactions. We do so in the context of marine protected areas (MPAs), the most prominent form of biodiversity conservation intervention worldwide. Our multimethod approach relied on lab-in-the-field economic experiments (n= 127) in two MPA and two non-MPA communities in Baja California, Mexico. In addition, we deployed a standardized fishers’ survey (n= 544) to verify the external validity of our findings and expert informant interviews (n= 77) to develop potential explanatory mechanisms. In MPA sites, prosocial and antisocial behavior is significantly higher, and the presence of antisocial behavior does not seem to have a negative effect on prosocial behavior. We suggest that market integration, economic diversification, and strengthened group identity in MPAs are the main potential mechanisms for the simultaneity of prosocial and antisocial behavior we observed. This study constitutes a first step in better understanding the interaction between prosociality and antisociality as related to natural resources governance and conservation science, integrating literatures from social psychology, evolutionary anthropology, behavioral economics, and ecology.

scholarly journals Comparison of adopted and non-adopted individuals reveals gene-environment interplay for education in the UK Biobank

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Cheesman ◽  
Avina Hunjan ◽  
Jonathan R. I. Coleman ◽  
Yasmin Ahmadzadeh ◽  
Robert Plomin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Environment ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
Rearing Environment ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Difference Test

AbstractIndividual-level polygenic scores can now explain ∼10% of the variation in number of years of completed education. However, associations between polygenic scores and education capture not only genetic propensity but information about the environment that individuals are exposed to. This is because individuals passively inherit effects of parental genotypes, since their parents typically also provide the rearing environment. In other words, the strong correlation between offspring and parent genotypes results in an association between the offspring genotypes and the rearing environment. This is termed passive gene-environment correlation. We present an approach to test for the extent of passive gene-environment correlation for education without requiring intergenerational data. Specifically, we use information from 6311 individuals in the UK Biobank who were adopted in childhood to compare genetic influence on education between adoptees and non-adopted individuals. Adoptees’ rearing environments are less correlated with their genotypes, because they do not share genes with their adoptive parents. We find that polygenic scores are twice as predictive of years of education in non-adopted individuals compared to adoptees (R2= 0.074 vs 0.037, difference test p= 8.23 × 10−24). We provide another kind of evidence for the influence of parental behaviour on offspring education: individuals in the lowest decile of education polygenic score attain significantly more education if they are adopted, possibly due to educationally supportive adoptive environments. Overall, these results suggest that genetic influences on education are mediated via the home environment. As such, polygenic prediction of educational attainment represents gene-environment correlations just as much as it represents direct genetic effects.

scholarly journals Comparison of Adopted and Nonadopted Individuals Reveals Gene–Environment Interplay for Education in the UK Biobank

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 582-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Cheesman ◽  
Avina Hunjan ◽  
Jonathan R. I. Coleman ◽  
Yasmin Ahmadzadeh ◽  
Robert Plomin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Uk

Polygenic scores now explain approximately 10% of the variation in educational attainment. However, they capture not only genetic propensity but also information about the family environment. This is because of passive gene–environment correlation, whereby the correlation between offspring and parent genotypes results in an association between offspring genotypes and the rearing environment. We measured passive gene–environment correlation using information on 6,311 adoptees in the UK Biobank. Adoptees’ genotypes were less correlated with their rearing environments because they did not share genes with their adoptive parents. We found that polygenic scores were twice as predictive of years of education in nonadopted individuals compared with adoptees ( R2s = .074 vs. .037, p = 8.23 × 10−24). Individuals in the lowest decile of polygenic scores for education attained significantly more education if they were adopted, possibly because of educationally supportive adoptive environments. Overall, these results suggest that genetic influences on education are mediated via the home environment.

MAOA, Drug Selling, and Violent Victimization

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Watts ◽  
Melissa J. Tetzlaff-Bemiller ◽  
James C. McCutcheon
Keyword(s):  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Monoamine Oxidase A ◽  
Violent Victimization ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Drug Selling

Involvement in drug markets is a significant risk factor for criminal victimization. Separately, the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene has been identified as correlating with risky and antisocial behaviors and moderating the effects of environmental risk factors on antisocial behaviors. Using a sample drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health ( N = 8,860), we explore whether MAOA genotype moderates the effect of drug selling on violent victimization. Results show that drug selling increases violent victimization among males, but not females. Additionally, the effect of drug selling on violent victimization among males is greater among the carriers of the 2R/3R alleles of MAOA, providing evidence of Gene × Environment interaction. These results appear despite a number of controls that potentially make the drug selling–violent victimization relationship spurious. Implications of the findings are discussed.

On the Genetic and Genomic Basis of Aggression, Violence, and Antisocial Behavior

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Beaver ◽  
Eric J. Connolly ◽  
Joseph L. Nedelec ◽  
Joseph A. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Genetic Association Studies ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genomic Basis

There is a great deal of interest in examining the genetic and environmental architecture to aggression, violence, and antisocial behaviors. This interest has resulted in hundreds of studies being published that estimate genetic and environmental effects on antisocial phenotypes. The results generated from these studies have been remarkably consistent and have contributed greatly to the knowledge base on the etiology of antisocial behavior. This chapter reviews the research on the genetic basis to antisocial phenotypes by presenting the results related to the heritability of antisocial phenotypes. It also discusses some of the molecular genetic association studies as well as genome-wide association studies that focus on the development of antisocial behaviors. In doing so, it also reviews findings related to gene–environment interactions. The chapter concludes by discussing some of the ways in which these findings could be used for intervention and prevention programs.

The Case for Mom and Dad

2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-201
Author(s):  
D. Paul Sullins
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Outcomes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Biological Father ◽  
Child Emotional Problems ◽  
Child Distress ◽  
Biological Mother ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
Extensive Body ◽  
Traditional Natural ◽  
Health And Academic Achievement

Is the system of norms comprising traditional, natural marriage—featuring formally enacted, irrevocable, exclusive man/woman sexual union preceded by chastity—essential for children’s development and well-being, as Catholic teaching asserts? Review of an extensive body of diverse research finds that, compared to children continuously living with two parents, married parents, or their own biological parents, children in other family arrangements consistently experience lower emotional well-being, physical health, and academic achievement. Competing research has variously attributed this difference to a lack of married parents, two parents, complementary man/woman parents, or family stability, but these possibilities have not previously been studied in combination. To address this question, family structure differences and determinants of child well-being (reverse coded to show child distress) were examined using the 2008–2018 National Health Interview Surveys ( n = 82,635). Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for child emotional problems were higher with less than two parents (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.27–1.56), unmarried parents (1.46, 95% CI 1.31–1.61), unstable parents (1.55, 95% CI 1.27–1.76), or less than two biological parents (AOR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.55–2.87 for one biological parent; 4.77, 95% CI 3.95–5.77 for no biological parents). When combined in the same model, only the lack of joint biological parentage accounted for higher distress, with outcomes significantly worse without the biological father than without the biological mother (interaction AOR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.04–1.71). This evidence strongly supports the claim that maximum child development occurs only in the persistent care of both of the child’s own biological parents. Marriage benefits children primarily by ensuring such care. Implications are discussed. Summary: Children raised apart from the care of both natural parents consistently experience lower developmental outcomes. Traditional, religious marriage norms—a lifelong, exclusive sexual union between man and woman—benefit children by establishing strong conditions that promote such care. More than any other family arrangement, marriage assures to children the care of their own mom and dad.

To Help or To Harm? Assessing the Impact of Envy on Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1156-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Maria C. Behler ◽  
Catherine S. J. Wall ◽  
Adriana Bos ◽  
Jeffrey D. Green
Keyword(s):  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Prisoner's Dilemma ◽  
Prisoner’S Dilemma ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Neutral State ◽  
Harmful Behavior ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Two studies examined how envy influences prosocial and antisocial behavior. In Experiment 1, participants in an envious state (relative to a neutral state) were less helpful: They picked up fewer dropped pencils in their immediate vicinity. We expanded upon these findings by examining how envy affected both helping and harming behavior in a competitive scenario. In Experiment 2, individuals in envious or neutral states assigned puzzle tasks to another student in a prisoner’s dilemma style scenario. Prosocial and antisocial behaviors were assessed via the difficulty of the assigned puzzles (easy puzzles were considered helpful and difficult puzzles were harmful). We hypothesized that experiencing envy would result in greater motive to harm as well as greater likelihood of engaging in harmful behavior. The hypothesis was supported, suggesting that envy has detrimental ramifications that go beyond the individual and extend to interpersonal relationships.

scholarly journals The Genesis 12–19 (G1219) Study: A Twin and Sibling Study of Gene–Environment Interplay and Adolescent Development in the UK

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom A. McAdams ◽  
Alice M. Gregory ◽  
Richard Rowe ◽  
Helena M. S. Zavos ◽  
Nicola L. Barclay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Sibling Pairs ◽  
Multiple Phenotypes ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
The Uk

The Genesis 12–19 (G1219) Study is an ongoing longitudinal study of a sample of UK twin pairs, non-twin sibling pairs, and their parents. G1219 was initially designed to examine the role of gene–environment interplay in adolescent depression. However, since then data have continued to be collected from both parents and their offspring into young adulthood. This has allowed for longitudinal analyses of depression and has enabled researchers to investigate multiple phenotypes and to ask questions about intermediate mechanisms. The study has primarily focused on emotional development, particularly depression and anxiety, which have been assessed at multiple levels of analysis (symptoms, cognitions, and relevant environmental experiences). G1219 has also included assessment of a broader range of psychological phenotypes ranging from antisocial behaviors and substance use to sleep difficulties, in addition to multiple aspects of the environment. DNA has also been collected. The first wave of data collection began in the year 1999 and the fifth wave of data collection will be complete before the end of 2012. In this article, we describe the sample, data collection, and measures used. We also summarize some of the key findings to date.

scholarly journals Cortisol and antisocial behavior in early adolescence: The role of gender in an economically disadvantaged sample

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 579-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Kobak ◽  
Kristyn Zajac ◽  
Seymour Levine
Keyword(s):  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Cortisol Response ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Unique Challenge ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Disadvantaged Families

AbstractThis study examines the relation between adolescents' antisocial behaviors and adrenocortical activity during a laboratory visit in a sample of economically disadvantaged families (N= 116, ages 12–14, 51% female). Pretask cortisol levels indexed adolescents' prechallenge response to the lab visit, whereas adolescents' response to a conflict discussion with their caregivers was indexed with residualized change in pre- to postconflict cortisol levels. A trait measure of antisocial behavior (derived from parent, teacher, and self-reports) was associated with lower pretask cortisol levels but greater cortisol response to the conflict discussion. Gender moderated antisocial adolescents' cortisol response to the conflict discussion with girls who reported more covert risky problem behaviors showing an increased cortisol response. The findings suggest that, although antisocial adolescents had lower pretask cortisol levels, conflict discussions with caregivers present a unique challenge to antisocial girls compared with antisocial boys.

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