Nature and Nurture in Personality and Psychopathology: A Guide for Clinicians

Psychiatry and clinical psychology have long debated the roles of nature and nurture in psychopathology. This book argues for a balanced middle ground between nature and nurture, exploring why personality is a key determinant of how people respond to stress and offering a complex and multivariate approach to treatment.

Format: Hardback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 18 February 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The debate between psychiatry and clinical psychology regarding the influence of nature and nurture on the pathways to psychopathology has been a longstanding one. While some clinicians have adopted a purely neuroscience-based approach to treatment, others have focused solely on the impact of environmental stressors. In this book, author Paris advocates for a balanced middle ground between nature and nurture in human development.

The author reviews and integrates research that demonstrates the crucial role of interactions between genes and environment in understanding the development of mental disorders. The book explores why personality plays a significant role in how individuals respond to stress, functioning as a psychological immune system. This model represents a departure from overly simplistic and reductionistic constructs, which have traditionally relied on biological or psychosocial risks in development. Instead, it offers a comprehensive and multivariate approach that encourages a broader approach to treatment.

For mental health clinicians who are eager to gain a deeper understanding of the roles of nature and nurture in the development of psychopathology, this book is an essential resource. It provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between genetics, environment, and mental health, and offers practical strategies for addressing these factors in clinical practice. By integrating research from various fields, the book offers a holistic and comprehensive perspective on the development of mental disorders, paving the way for more effective and personalized treatment approaches.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367741389