Infl uences of Gene–Environment Interaction and Correlation on Disruptive Behavior in the Family Context

There are diverse developmental pathways to and among disruptive behavior disorders. As evidenced by this volume, our understanding of the development of disruptive behavior disorders has been greatly advanced through developmental strategies examining genetic, prenatal, neuroendocrine, neuroanatomical, and social infl uences. The current chapter focuses on advances in our understanding of the development of disruptive behavior problems that have been gained through using behavioral genetic methods, and proposes a strategy for integrating across multiple areas in order to gain a more complete understanding of the development of disruptive behaviors in children. We begin by placing the behavioral genetic work we will discuss in a larger developmental framework. Three comprehensive, broad developmental approaches have been described for the development of disruptive behavior disorder in children: additive, interactionist, and transactional (e.g., Dodge & Petit, 2003 ; Kimonis & Frick, 2010 ). In additive models, different developmental infl uences work together in an aggregate way, each producing independent effects to infl uence trajectories of development. In interactionist models, different developmental infl uences produce a joint effect on development of the phenotype 1 through moderation, modifying or amplifying the infl uence of other developmental infl uences. In transactional models, different developmental factors infl uence each other and the phenotype of interest across development. Additive and interactionist models are combinatory, emphasizing the joint effect of previously measured “risk” or “protective” factors on an outcome. Chapter 2 Infl uences of Gene–Environment Interaction and Correlation on Disruptive Behavior in the Family Context