According to differential susceptibility theory (DST), some children may be more sensitive to both positive and negative features of the environment. However, research has generated a list of widely disparate temperamental traits that may reflect differential susceptibility to the environment. In addition, findings have implicated these temperament × environment interactions in predicting a wide variety of child outcomes. This study uses a novel evolutionary model of temperament to examine whether differential susceptibility operates in a domain-general or domain-specific manner. Using a racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of 243 preschoolers and their parents (56% female; 48% African American), we examined the interactions between maternal and paternal parenting quality and two evolutionary informed temperament profiles (i.e., Hawks and Doves) in predicting changes in teacher-reported conduct problems and depressive symptoms from preschool to first grade. Results suggest that differential susceptibility operates in a domain-specific fashion. Specifically, the “Hawk” temperament was differentially susceptible to maternal parenting in predicting externalizing problems. In contrast, the “Dove” temperament was susceptible to both paternal and maternal parenting quality in predicting changes in depressive symptoms. Findings provide support for an integrative framework that synthesizes DST with an evolutionary, function-based approach to temperament.

根据差异易感性理论（DST），一些孩子可能对环境的积极和消极特征都更敏感。然而，研究已经列出了一系列截然不同的气质特征，这些特征可能反映了对环境的不同敏感性。此外，研究结果表明这些气质与环境的相互作用可以预测各种儿童的结果。本研究使用一种新颖的气质进化模型来研究差异易感性是否以通用领域或特定领域的方式发挥作用。我们使用 243 名学龄前儿童及其父母（56% 为女性；48% 非洲裔美国人）组成的种族和社会经济多样化样本，研究了母亲和父亲养育质量以及两种进化型气质特征（即鹰派和鸽派）在预测变化时的相互作用。教师报告的从学前班到一年级的行为问题和抑郁症状。结果表明，不同的易感性以特定领域的方式发挥作用。具体来说，“鹰”气质在预测外化问题时对母亲养育方式的影响存在差异。相比之下，“鸽子”气质在预测抑郁症状的变化时容易受到父亲和母亲养育质量的影响。研究结果为综合框架提供了支持，该框架将 DST 与基于功能的进化气质方法相结合。