The Nature and Nurture of Child Surgency

Key points

Children who are impulsive and exuberant—a trait known as "surgency"—often evoke harsh parenting.

Parents who are warm, calm, and consistent support better emotion regulation in children high in surgency.

Surgency effects on parenting reflect genetic or nature influences on the parent-child relationship.

Positive parenting reflects environmental influences on the parent-child relationship.

Children who are high in the temperament characteristic of surgency are often impulsive, approaching things they are excited about without pausing or thinking. Their joyful, exuberant behaviors can be rewarding for parents, but they can also be challenging to manage. Recent research speaks to both the nature (genetic) and nurture ( parenting ) aspects of surgency.

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