Terrie E. Moffitt Explained

Terrie E. Moffitt
Birth Date:9 March 1955
Birth Place:Nuremberg, Germany
Citizenship:American, British
Field:Psychology
Work Institution:Duke University, King's College London
Alma Mater:University of North Carolina, University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Thesis Title:Genetic Influence of Parental Psychiatric Illness on Violent and Recidivistic Criminal Behavior
Thesis Url:https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=98133
Thesis Year:1984
Doctoral Advisor:Sarnoff A. Mednick[1]
Known For:Developmental theory of crime, Gene-environment interaction
Spouse:Avshalom Caspi
Prizes:Stockholm Prize in Criminology, Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize
Website:moffittcaspi.com

Terrie Edith Moffitt (born March 9, 1955) is an American-British clinical psychologist who is best known for her pioneering research on the development of antisocial behavior and for her collaboration with colleague and partner Avshalom Caspi in research on gene-environment interactions in mental disorders.

Moffitt is the Nannerl O. Keohane University Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University (USA) and Professor of Social behavior and Development in the Medical Research Council's Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Center at the Institute of Psychiatry Psychology an Neuroscience King's College London (UK). She is Associate Director of the Dunedin Longitudinal Study, which follows 1037 people born in 1972-73 in Dunedin, New Zealand. She also launched the Environmental-Risk Longitudinal Twin Study, which follows 1100 British families with twins born in 1994–1995.

Early years

Moffitt grew up in North Carolina, United States, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her undergraduate degree (BA, Psychology 1977). She continued her training in clinical psychology at the University of Southern California (MA, Experimental Animal Behavior 1981; PhD, Clinical Psychology 1984) and completed postdoctoral training at University of California, Los Angeles Neuropsychiatric Institute. In 1985, Moffitt became an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where she was promoted to full professor in 1995. Moffitt has subsequently served on the faculty at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, and Duke University.

Life and work

Terrie Moffitt studies how genetic and environmental risks work together to shape the course of abnormal human behaviors and psychiatric disorders. Her particular interest is in antisocial and criminal behavior, but she also studies depression, psychosis, addiction, and cognitive aging. She is a licensed clinical psychologist, who completed her clinical hospital training at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute (1984). Her work on the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study in New Zealand has identified patterns of intimate as well as stranger crime, including discoveries about the role of females as initiators of violence. Professor Moffitt is also carrying out an important large-scale follow-up of twins in the UK to investigate biological, psychological, and social influences on development. Her work since 2010 is leading the Dunedin Study into the study of aging.

Adolescence-limited and life-course persistent antisocial behavior

Moffitt is best known for her theory of adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent offender antisocial behavior.[2] [3] Moffitt's theory holds that there are two main types of antisocial offenders in society. Adolescence-limited offenders exhibit antisocial behavior only during adolescence. Life-course-persistent offenders begin to behave antisocially early in childhood and continue this behavior into adulthood. For her studies of crime and human development she was awarded the Stockholm Prize in Criminology.[4]

Gene-environment interaction (GxE)

Moffitt is also known for her research on gene-environment interaction (GxE). Her two publications in the journal Science in 2002 and 2003 with her colleague and partner Avshalom Caspi were among the first reports of GxE in humans. The first paper showed that children who carried a polymorphism in the MAOA gene were more vulnerable to developing antisocial behavior following exposure to maltreatment during childhood.[5] The second paper showed that individuals who carried a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) were more vulnerable to developing depression following exposure to stressful life events.[6] Moffitt and her colleagues have authored a number of articles on theory and methods in GxE research in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience.[7] Moffitt’s research on GxE in the development of antisocial behavior has stimulated a global discussion of the idea of criminal intent and responsibility, as well as raising profound questions about humane strategies for crime prevention among abused children at risk of future violence.[8] The second Science paper, on the interaction of SLC6A4 and life stress has generated enormous controversy,[9] [10] culminating in meta-analyses published in leading journals in psychiatry and medicine. Some meta-analyses do not support the original finding,[11] some do,[12] [13] and animal and imaging work on the hypothesis should also be considered.[14] [15] However, the general approach of studying candidate genes, which was the only approach available when Moffitt and Caspi’s GxE work was done, has since 2010 been superseded by whole-genome approaches.[10] [16] [17]

National and International Service Committees

Honors and awards

Moffitt was awarded the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Distinguished Career Award in 2006.[35] Moffitt and Caspi jointly received the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize in 2010 for their innovative research on "the interplay between genetic disposition and environmental influences in the development of children."[36] Moffitt and Caspi were awarded the APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions in 2016;[37] the citation for their shared award emphasizes their research contributions demonstrating "how early life experiences shape health disparities and how genetic factors shape and are shaped by environmental factors."[38] In 2018, Moffitt was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.[39]

She received an honorary degree from the University of Basel in 2014.[40]

In November 2022 Moffitt, was awarded the Royal Society Te Apārangi's Rutherford Medal, along with the Dunedin Study, team leader Richie Poulton and team members Murray Thomson and Avshalom Caspi.[41]

Moffitt was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to social science.

Bibliometrics

Moffitt is the most cited author of in several psychology journals such as Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Psychological Review, Development and Psychopathology, and Criminology. [42]

Selected publications

  1. Moffitt TE. Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: a developmental taxonomy. Psychol Rev. Oct 1993;100(4):674-701.
  2. Moffitt TE. The neuropsychology of conduct disorder. Dev Psychopathol. Win-Spr 1993;5(1-2):135-151.
  3. Moffitt TE, Caspi A, Dickson N, Silva P, Stanton W. Childhood-onset versus adolescent-onset antisocial conduct problems in males: Natural history from ages 3 to 18 years. Dev Psychopathol. Spr 1996;8(2):399-424.
  4. Caspi A, McClay J, Moffitt TE, et al. Role of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children. Science. Aug 2002;297(5582):851-854.
  5. Caspi A, Sugden K, Moffitt TE, et al. Influence of life stress on depression: Moderation by a polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene. Science. Jul 2003;301(5631):386-389.
  6. Moffitt TE. The new look of behavioral genetics in developmental psychopathology: Gene-environment interplay in antisocial behaviors. Psychol Bull. Jul 2005;131(4):533-554.
  7. Caspi A, Moffitt TE, Cannon M, et al. Moderation of the effect of adolescent-onset cannabis use on adult psychosis by a functional polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene: Longitudinal evidence of a gene X environment interaction. Biol Psychiatry. May 2005;57(10):1117-1127.
  8. Moffitt TE, Caspi A, Rutter M. Strategy for investigating interactions between measured genes and measured environments. Arch Gen Psychiatry. May 2005;62(5):473-481.
  9. Caspi A, Moffitt TE. Gene-environment interactions in psychiatry: joining forces with neuroscience. Nat Rev Neurosci. Jul 2006;7(7):583-590.
  10. Caspi A, Williams B, Kim-Cohen J, et al. Moderation of breastfeeding effects on the IQ by genetic variation in fatty acid metabolism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Nov 20 2007;104(47):18860-18865.
  11. Polanczyk G, Caspi A, Williams B, et al. Protective Effect of CRHR1 Gene Variants on the Development of Adult Depression Following Childhood Maltreatment Replication and Extension. Arch Gen Psychiatry. Sep 2009;66(9):978-985.
  12. Caspi A, Hariri AR, Holmes A, Uher R, Moffitt TE. Genetic Sensitivity to the Environment: The Case of the Serotonin Transporter Gene and Its Implications for Studying Complex Diseases and Traits. Am J Psychiatry. May 2010;167(5):509-527.
  13. Moffitt TE, Arseneault L, Belsky D, et al. A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Feb 15 2011;108(7):2693-2698.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: An Interview with Terrie Moffitt . SAGE Knowledge . 27 January 2019 . 2013.
  2. Web site: Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy.. March 17, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150527055011/http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/rev/100/4/674 . May 27, 2015 .
  3. Moffitt. Terrie E.. 2018-02-21. Male antisocial behaviour in adolescence and beyond. Nature Human Behaviour. 2. 3. 177–186. 10.1038/s41562-018-0309-4. 30271880. 2397-3374. 6157602.
  4. Web site: Prize recipients 2007 . Stockholm University Communications Office . July 9, 2012 . November 6, 2014.
  5. Role of Genotype in the Cycle of Violence in Maltreated Children . Sciencemag.org . 2002-08-02 . 10.1126/science.1072290 . 2012-07-31. Caspi . Avshalom . McClay . Joseph . Moffitt . Terrie E. . Mill . Jonathan . Martin . Judy . Craig . Ian W. . Taylor . Alan . Poulton . Richie . Science . 297 . 5582 . 851–854 . 12161658 . 2002Sci...297..851C . 7882492 .
  6. Influence of Life Stress on Depression: Moderation by a Polymorphism in the 5-HTT Gene . 10.1126/science.1083968 . Stke.sciencemag.org . 2003-07-22 . 12869766 . 301 . Science . 386–9 . Caspi . A . Sugden . K . Moffitt . TE . 5631 . 2003Sci...301..386C . 146500484 . etal.
  7. JAMA Network | Archives of General Psychiatry | Strategy for Investigating Interactions Between Measured Genes and Measured Environments . Archives of General Psychiatry . May 2005 . 62 . 5 . 473–481 . Archpsyc.ama-assn.org . 10.1001/archpsyc.62.5.473 . 2012-07-31 . Moffitt . Terrie E. . Caspi . Avshalom . Rutter . Michael . 15867100 .
  8. The New Look of Behavioral Genetics in Developmental Psychopathology: Gene-Environment Interplay in Antisocial Behaviors. . Psychological Bulletin. 131. 4. 533–554. Psycnet.apa.org . 10.1037/0033-2909.131.4.533. 2005. Moffitt. Terrie E.. 16060801.
  9. M Munafò . GL.05 Controversies in gene–environment interaction research: why all the fuss? - Munafò 82 (8): e2 - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry . Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry . Jnnp.bmj.com . 2011-02-11 . 82 . 8 . e2 . 10.1136/jnnp-2011-300504.25 . 145594462 . 2012-07-31.
  10. Duncan LE, Keller MC . A critical review of the first 10 years of candidate gene-by-environment interaction research in psychiatry . The American Journal of Psychiatry . 168 . 10 . 1041–9 . October 2011 . 21890791 . 3222234 . 10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.11020191 .
  11. Culverhouse. R. C.. Saccone. N. L.. Horton. A. C.. Ma. Y.. Anstey. K. J.. Banaschewski. T.. Burmeister. M.. Cohen-Woods. S.. Etain. B.. 2017-04-04. Collaborative meta-analysis finds no evidence of a strong interaction between stress and 5-HTTLPR genotype contributing to the development of depression. Molecular Psychiatry. 23. 1. 133–142. 10.1038/mp.2017.44. 28373689. 1476-5578. 5628077.
  12. Sharpley. Christopher F.. Palanisamy. Suresh K.A.. Glyde. Nicarla S.. Dillingham. Peter W.. Agnew. Linda L.. October 2014. An update on the interaction between the serotonin transporter promoter variant (5-HTTLPR), stress and depression, plus an exploration of non-confirming findings. Behavioural Brain Research. 273. 89–105. 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.07.030. 25078292. 24488799. 0166-4328.
  13. Karg. Katja. Burmeister. Margit. Shedden. Kerby. Sen. Srijan. 2011-05-02. The Serotonin Transporter Promoter Variant (5-HTTLPR), Stress, and Depression Meta-analysis Revisited. Archives of General Psychiatry. 68. 5. 444–454. 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.189. 21199959. 0003-990X. 3740203.
  14. Caspi. Avshalom. Hariri. Ahmad R. Holmes. Andrew. Uher. Rudolf. Moffitt. Terrie E.. May 2010. Genetic Sensitivity to the Environment: The Case of the Serotonin Transporter Gene and Its Implications for Studying Complex Diseases and Traits. American Journal of Psychiatry. 167. 5. 509–527. 10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.09101452. 20231323. 0002-953X. 2943341.
  15. Caspi. Avshalom. Moffitt. Terrie E.. July 2006. Gene–environment interactions in psychiatry: joining forces with neuroscience. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 7. 7. 583–590. 10.1038/nrn1925. 16791147. 205500587. 1471-003X.
  16. Hewitt. John K.. Editorial Policy on Candidate Gene Association and Candidate Gene-by-Environment Interaction Studies of Complex Traits. Behavior Genetics. 42. 1. 2011. 1–2. 0001-8244. 10.1007/s10519-011-9504-z. 21928046. 11492871.
  17. Johnson. Emma C.. Border. Richard. Melroy-Greif. Whitney E.. de Leeuw. Christiaan A.. Ehringer. Marissa A.. Keller. Matthew C.. No Evidence That Schizophrenia Candidate Genes Are More Associated With Schizophrenia Than Noncandidate Genes. Biological Psychiatry. 82. 10. 2017. 702–708. 0006-3223. 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.06.033. 28823710. 5643230.
  18. Web site: Trustees . Nuffield Foundation . 2013-10-30.
  19. Web site: ASC Fellows . Asc41.com . 2012-03-01 . 2012-07-31.
  20. Web site: Health and Retirement Study . Hrsonline.isr.umich.edu . 2012-07-31.
  21. Web site: Jury . Criminologyprize.com . 2012-07-31 .
  22. Web site: Committee . .nationalacademies.org . 2012-07-31.
  23. Web site: DBASSE . CLAJ Committee Members . 7.nationalacademies.org . 2012-07-31.
  24. Web site: Section A7: Behavioural sciences . Acadeuro.org . 2012-07-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106055954/http://www.acadeuro.org/index.php?id=37%2F . 2014-11-06 .
  25. Web site: Moffitt, Terrie, Ph.D. | APA DSM-5 . Dsm5.org . 2012-07-31.
  26. Web site: UK . Terrie Moffitt: Former Member in Personality & Impulse Disorders . F1000 . 2012-07-31.
  27. Web site: UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills . . 2009-09-25 . 2012-07-31.
  28. Web site: Institute of Criminology . Crim.cam.ac.uk . 2012-07-31.
  29. Book: 2004. 10.17226/10881. 978-0-309-09124-4. Firearms and Violence . March 17, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131102000106/http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309091241%2F . November 2, 2013 .
  30. Web site: Medical Research Council - ErrorHandler . MRC . 2012-07-31.
  31. Web site: Members of the BSA working group on genetics research issues . Apa.org . 2012-07-31.
  32. Web site: Genetics and behaviour - About the Working Party . . 2012-07-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120516075241/http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/genetics-and-behaviour/genetics-and-behaviour-about-working-party . 2012-05-16 .
  33. Web site: Jacobs Foundation . Jacobs Foundation . 2012-07-31.
  34. Web site: National Consortium on Violence Research . March 17, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120208083613/http://www.ncovr.heinz.cmu.edu/ . February 8, 2012 .
  35. https://sccap53.org/about-us/history/sccap-award-winners-division-53/ SCCAP Award Winners: Division 53
  36. Web site: 2010 Research Prize. Jacobs Foundation. en-US. 2020-01-25.
  37. News: APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions. www.apa.org. 2020-01-25. en.
  38. 2016. Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions: Terrie E. Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi.. American Psychologist. en. 71. 8. 658–662. 10.1037/amp0000078. 27977236. 1935-990X.
  39. News: Terrie Moffitt Elected to National Academy of Medicine . 26 January 2019 . Duke Today . 15 October 2018 .
  40. Web site: Honorary Awards Faculty of Psychology . . 2 November 2020 .
  41. Web site: The Dunedin Study wins Rutherford Medal and other Research Honours Aotearoa winners celebrated in Ōtepoti Dunedin . 2022-11-16 . Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  42. Web site: Terrie E. Moffitt citation rankings . Exaly . 2022-06-01.