Genes Impact Environment - WSJ.pdf - iSites

Parents Can Counteract
'Environments' Created
By Children's Genes
IGMZTND FREUD had been dead for four
S years before a scientist proved in 1943 that
DNA carries genetic information. It was probably
just as well. The founder of psychoanalysis
-mlv would have rolled ovei in his erave if
he'd-sen how the genetic revolutionblayed out
when it comes to understanding human behavior.
As tough as neuroscientist~have been on
Freud-replacing his quaint notions of ego and
id with neumtransmitters and brain circuits-geneticists
have struck the unkindest blow. linkine
depression, neuroticism, impulsivity, sexual orir
entalion and more to people's 25,OW or so genes.
The comolieated taoeitrfof the mind wowin bv
heud, a respected ne&
scientist in his day, has
been reduced to a fourletter
genetic code.
But when it comes to
child development, Freud
is back. Or at least psychoanalysts
and their focus
on interactions between
parents and children
are, and in a way
that few foresaw. The
childhood experiences
that so riveted Freud affect
the expresdon or sup
pression of gene-based
personality, traits for a
fascinating reason: Genes creak! environments.
"We analysts actually have a place at the table
of genetics," David Reiss, dimtor of psychiatric
research at the George Washington Univemity
Medical Center. told the annual meetine of the
Amencan Fxyehoanalytlc Asscoation l&t month.
He is leading an ambltlous study of 310 (so
far) adouted children. He and colle-mes are.
fir& idintifymg whether the adoptez habies'are
bubbly and all smiles, or solemn and dour. Next,
thev ire observine how the adoutive oarents respoi~d
to the childien. This respbnse k the "eWronment"
the babies' (presumably) gene-based
traits create. The goal is to see wktkr the parental
response alters expmsion d,- traits
oosition. Others seem conwnitaliv crankv. refus-

~
U .,LC pqcuIO OLG ,","Dl DUODI. *-. -
a very teal sense, the chid's innate di
on-solemnity-elicits a certain ~arental sib!
havior-harshness and lack of wanith. Gen
in other words, create an environment. This
two punch cam lead to the worst outwme, sa Ps
Wz;.&iss.. S-es hint that when solemn babies
reactr~@do~,~,. they bavb a greater. chance of
de7ielopfig eonpu@;~sorders, especially oppmitionalbehm-or;,Tliese%re
me kids who become
bullies and mbw. They also have a higher
risk of anxiety ilisorden, which em pave the
wav to denression and substance abuse.
-BU~ the' new research suggests that none of thls
b&$+&.h& is inev%ahie. If parents renst responding to a dow
, e~s, says' tk.Giss, the genes
a t @herlie sole@iQ,Q:infancy and opposition&l,, , ..:
beyqor in th$&nny+ my;@ qMet,.. , , d:,
Genes seem to create enviroriments throuehout
life. An uluesponsive child elicits less afkction
from parents, reinforcing her innate lack of
soeiahilitv. Imwlsive. amesiive kids elicit
threats a6d cokeinn, reGforcing problem behav-
ior. On a happier note, a sociable and verbal
child is a d a t to talk to and read to. reinforcing
his inherent cqitive edge. '.We're taking
ahnut the genume aq a product of soclal interac.
tions," says Dr. Reiss. "Genes ale fully ex-
pre@ in some social environments, while in
others they never get expressed."
llAT IS A fundamentally hopeful message,
T because it suggests that genes are not destinv.
Yes. a toddler's innate dourness will elicit
a ferndin' response from even the best-intentioned
parents. But if parents understand that
this instinctive resoonse is the verv environment
that can reinforce a genetic tendency, they have
an incentive to respond differently. Studies find
that&- narents videos of their cold. imnaiiedor
angiy responses-and offemg coaching
lnhow to w n d less harshly-helps many
change, b4kjiibb the link frob inf&t.te~p$&~.,;
~. . .. .
ment to ado~e6Wntrouble. ' .*,.
, , '" ,"~..
Gene al$o &&an-environment whenhi '. '.
child's oppasitional, aggressive b*avior breeds J ~
marital wnfliet. That environment! tlienindukes . ,
stronger expression of the problematic:fraitS, ~
raisiie the child's risk for academicand hehaw .'
iom problems in adolescence. "Kids are contributing
to the creation of an environment Ulat
then affects them." says psychology resycher
Tom O'Cunnor of the University of Rochester.
Attribuling adolescent problems lo the inexorable
force of genetics may be appealing (it lets
narents off the hook). but imores the role of
&ily ennronment,&hich is far from inevitable.
Says Prof. O'Connor, "The family enviwnment
has been wrongly downplayed."
"If these fmangs hold up," adds Dr. Reiss,
"it would provide an opportunity to forestall genetically
influenced adverse outtomes. If you
can alter the parent's responses, these genes
might never express themselves. When I say
that analysts ilave a plase in genetics, I mean
that they have a iieep agpreciation of the impor-
- ~
:
tance of relationshi~s in shaping Deoule."
Frrmd. who woujd have &ijO this year, is
WIy smiling down £rum his couch in We clouds.
I'
- -... .-