In order to accomplish the goals of the Institute, studies necessarily include multiple levels of analysis. These range from characterizing the environment to studying the relation between brain and behavior using brain imaging technology. Current work includes behavioral teratology through studies of the long term effects of prenatal drug and other toxic exposures and conditions; identifying factors that affect behavioral and physiological reactions to stress and the capacity to cope with stress; the impact of deviant caregiving and traumatic events in the child's life on the development of self-worth and other self-evaluative emotions; and the study of normal cognitive, social, and emotional development.
These principles represent broad areas of concern within which specific basic and applied research programs and clinical services of the Institute operate. Our research examines normative growth and individual differences in normal and atypical populations.