Author:

Keywords:

Social Sciences, Psychology, Developmental, Psychology, Adolescence, Differential susceptibility hypothesis, Evolutionary theory, Gene-environment interactions, Integrative model for loneliness research, Loneliness, Sociocognitive model, DIFFERENTIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY, SENSITIVITY, CHILDHOOD, BEHAVIOR, CONTEXT, MODELS, 1701 Psychology, 5201 Applied and developmental psychology, 5205 Social and personality psychology

Abstract:

This article aims to illustrate how development is shaped by genes, environments, and their interactions. To this aim, a selective overview of research on adolescent loneliness is presented. Earlier approaches have already recognized the combined influence of environmental and personal factors on adolescent loneliness. Contemporary approaches, and the evolutionary theory of loneliness and associated sociocognitive model in particular, have provided a new impetus to research on loneliness. The rapidly expanding knowledge of genes and gene-environment interactions suggests that genetic effects related to loneliness represent some form of differential susceptibility to the environment. Methods from the neurosciences provide new insights into the basic mechanisms underlying feelings of loneliness. The concluding part of the article explains why loneliness is a valuable topic of scientific inquiry and presents an integrative model for future research on adolescent loneliness. Developmental psychologists throughout Europe can contribute to such integrative research programmes, each from their own perspective. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.