‘Nature or nurture? Are individuals born as an empty slate and shaped by their environment or are we already programmed to react in certain ways? Jan Strelau has spent more than fifty years studying this age-old question. He bases some of his conclusions on the pioneering work of the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov but carries them into the twenty-first century by including genetic studies. Strelau intends this book to provide a framework for others studying the field. He spends several chapters on methodology. He also gives the results of his studies, primarily on how different people react in stressful situations.’

From the Foreword …

‘Psychology can be a faddish field, not really solving problems but tiring of them and then running after a new fad. What I admire most is the systematic nature of Strelau’s fifty-year program of research. This book demonstrates the value of such long-term dedication to a systematic program of research.’

Robert Plomin, King’s College London