The Nature of Nurture: Rethinking Why and How Childhood Adversity Shapes Development

From a leading expert on child development, this book challenges romanticized views that 'natural' equals 'good' and that nature aims to maximize human happiness.

By considering evolutionary pressures on humans, Jay Belsky explains why, how, and for whom childhood adversity leads to outcomes like aggression, recklessness, and sexual promiscuity in adulthood, offering a Darwinian lens on nurture's impact.