The Nature of Nurture - Rethinking Why and How Childhood Adversity Shapes Development

Jay Belsky argues for a Darwinian interpretation of childhood trauma leading to “antisocial” adult behavior. There is no reason to believe that such conduct is dysfunctional and that “well-behaved” people are developmentally normal. Instead, adult aggression, promiscuity, and the like may reflect adaptation to danger and instability.