A key principle of individual differences research is that biological and environmental factors jointly influence personality and psychopathology. Genes and environments interact to influence the emergence and stability of both normal and abnormal behavior, including by shaping the neural circuits underpinning behavior. In a recent review, we evaluated the question of whether it is possible, not only to differentiate a person from their psychological problems, but also to differentiate the person from their psychological problems and their environment. We provided recommendations for future research to better inform our ability to study personality and psychopathology, while separating the influence of environment.
Relevant peer-reviewed publications
- Perlstein, S., Hawes, S., Vazquez, A.Y., Pacheco-Colón, I., Lehman, S., Parent, J., Byrd, A., & Waller, R.^ (2022). Genetic versus environmental influences on callous-unemotional traits in preadolescence: the role of parenting and parental psychopathology. Development and Psychopathology, in press
- Waller, R., Trentacosta, C.J., Shaw, D.S., Neiderhiser, J.M., Ganiban, J.M., Reiss, D., Leve, L.D., & Hyde, L.W. (2016). Heritable Temperamental Precursors of Early Callous-Unemotional Behavior. British Journal of Psychiatry, 209, 475-482
- Swartz, J.R., Waller, R., Knodt, A.R., Sabhlok, A., Hyde, L.W., & Hariri, A.R. (2016). A Common Polymorphism in The Williams Syndrome Gene GTF2I Predicts Threat-Related Amygdala Reactivity and Socioemotional Behavior in Healthy Young Adults. Biological Psychiatry, 81, 203-210
