This chapter discusses recent results in neuroscience and psychology that highlight the strong relationship between parental attachment and later success in children. It mentions a study that followed a group of kids from before birth through adulthood, measuring their attachment to their parents, and found persuasive connections between early attachment and mental health, happiness, and long-term economic outcomes.
Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about why children succeed and fail in school and beyond school. He argues that conscientiousness--a mixture of self-control and determination--can be a more important measure of academic and professional success than cognitive ability. He also discusses innovative techniques that schools, individuals, and non-profits are using to inspire young people in distressed neighborhoods. The conversation closes with the implications for public policy in fighting poverty.