In the not so distant past, academics and clinicians alike debated the relative influence of the environment on the developing mind. At one extreme were those that saw the mind as a ‘tabula rasa’ stating the mind was completely shaped by the environment and experience. At the other were those who believed the child’s innate way of being was the deciding factor. We now know a child’s mind develops through a complex interaction between their environment and genes, with both playing a crucial role. So for example, the presence of a certain gene responsible for reduced levels of an enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) in the brain places you at greater risk of developing aggressive and antisocial personality traits as an adult. However, that risk is only realised when that child grows up in an abusive or traumatic environment.
One area of child development that is predominately effected by environmental…
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