Psychosocial adversity and child psychopathology

Abstract

Background: Despite strong claims that 'genetic theory' should replace 'socialisation theory', there are good grounds for taking seriously the notion that there are psychosocial influences on child psychopathology.

Aims: To re-evaluate this issue in the light of developments over the past half-century.

Method: A wide-ranging review of topics related to this issue, 1948-1998.

Results and conclusions: The findings are used to consider the challenges still to be met as we enter the next century. It is argued that it is necessary to put aside the absurd brain-mind dualisms of the past.