The Importance of Behavioural Genetics for Developmental Science

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Pike, Alison

Affiliations: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Alison Pike, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Many topics of interest to developmental scientists are informed by behavioural genetic findings and their implications. First, behavioural genetic theory and methods will be briefly outlined. Next, findings will be illustrated by considering two disparate areas – general cognitive ability (IQ), and children's self-conceptions. These topics have yielded some surprising results that fundamentally change the way we think about the influence of families.

Keywords: development, twins, behavioural genetics, adoption, family environment

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-2012-11087

Journal: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 6, no. 1-2, pp. 13-15, 2012