Abstract

We studied a large sample of male children from birth to adulthood to determine why some children who are maltreated grow up to develop antisocial behavior, whereas others do not. A functional polymorphism in the gene encoding the neurotransmitter-metabolizing enzyme monoamine oxidase A ( MAOA ) was found to moderate the effect of maltreatment. Maltreated children with a genotype conferring high levels of MAOA expression were less likely to develop antisocial problems. These findings may partly explain why not all victims of maltreatment grow up to victimize others, and they provide epidemiological evidence that genotypes can moderate children's sensitivity to environmental insults.

Keywords

Monoamine oxidase AGenotypeChild abuseCycle of violencePsychologyPoison controlMonoamine oxidaseNeurotransmitter systemsInjury preventionClinical psychologyDevelopmental psychologyBiologyMedicineGeneticsGeneDomestic violenceEnvironmental healthEnzymeNeuroscience

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Publication Info

Year
2002
Type
article
Volume
297
Issue
5582
Pages
851-854
Citations
4801
Access
Closed

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Avshalom Caspi, Joseph L. McClay, Terrie E. Moffitt et al. (2002). Role of Genotype in the Cycle of Violence in Maltreated Children. Science , 297 (5582) , 851-854. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1072290

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DOI
10.1126/science.1072290