Hi Paul, thanks for your response. It may seem like a strange question to put to ACE's Connections, but I wanted to gauge other peoples opinion of the article and not just from an academic perspective, although any opinions are gratefully received.
I'm not an academic, but I do happen to be completing a thesis and I know that I will have to evidence a compelling argument in regards to the impact of interpersonal trauma on neurodevelopment.
I was interested to read in this article that 'exposure to several types of victimisation was assessed repeatedly from age 3 in the Dunedin longitudinal study, and from age 5 in the UK based study'. From my reading the most vulnerable time in regards neurodevelopment is up to age 3.
In the discussion part of the paper they state: 'We found cognitive deficits previously described in individuals with a history of childhood victimisation are largely explained by pre-existing cognitive vulnerabilities and nonspecific effects of socioeconomic disadvantage.'
Anyways my academic supervisor is from Auckland University and not Ritchie Poulton. My particular interest in this study is that it is based on data from the largest longitudinal study of its kind in the world, and subsequently that gives it merit (I guess), and it also happens to be from the city in which I live and therefore holds a lot of kudos here.
Also you make a really good point in regards the sociocultural milieu the authors maybe writing from.
I am still learning and experiencing the differing view points, as well as resistance in some quarters, and just trying to navigate through.
And thanks for your suggestions in regards to getting in touch with other researchers.
many thanks
Colette