Research Review: Genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility in child development: the case of attachment
Abstract
Gene-environment interactions interpreted in terms of differential susceptibility may play a large part in the explanation of individual differences in human development. Reviewing studies on the behavioral and molecular genetics of attachment, we present evidence for interactions between genetic and environmental factors explaining individual differences in attachment security and disorganization. In particular, the DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism seems associated with an increased risk for disorganized attachment, but only when combined with environmental risk. Gene-environment (G x E) interactions may be interpreted as genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility. We found support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis predicting not only more negative outcomes for susceptible children in unfavorable environments, but also positive outcomes for susceptible children in favorable environments.
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Children with greater susceptibility may realize better outcomes when securely attached, yet realize more negative outcomes in contexts of disorganized attachment.
“For example, children with greater susceptibility may realize better outcomes when securely attached, yet realize more negative outcomes in contexts of disorganized attachment”
From Malleability, plasticity, and individuality: How children learn and develop in context<sup>1</sup> (2019) · cites this paper as Bakermans-Kranenburg & van IJzendoorn, 2007
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- Authors
- Bakermans‐Kranenburg, M. J., & Van IJzendoorn, M. H.
- Affiliations
- Leiden University (NL)
- Venue
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-12
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1160-1173
- ISSN
- 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7610
- OpenAlex
- W2112399900
- Cited by
- 262
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 2.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- differential susceptibility hypothesis, gene-environment interaction, attachment security, disorganized attachment, genetic susceptibility, behavioral genetics
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Child Development, Disease Susceptibility, Female, Genetics, Behavioral, Humans, Male, Molecular Biology, Object Attachment, Parent-Child Relations, Polymorphism, Genetic, Social Environment, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Receptors, Dopamine D4
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