--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: According to Jay Belsky, a leading…" description: "\"“According to Jay Belsky, a leading proponent of this view and a psychology professor and child care expert at the University of London, the reactivity..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/susan-cain-647_child-care_according-to-jay-belsky-a-leading-propon_2646159.jpg" --- # According to Jay Belsky, a leading proponent of this view… ![“According to Jay Belsky, a leading proponent of this view and a psychology professor and child care expert at the University of London, the reactivity of these kids’ nervous systems makes them quickly overwhelmed by childhood adversity, but also able to benefit from a nurturing environment more…” quote by Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/susan-cain-647_child-care_according-to-jay-belsky-a-leading-propon_2646159.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/susan-cain-647_child-care_according-to-jay-belsky-a-leading-propon_2646159.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/susan-cain-647_child-care_according-to-jay-belsky-a-leading-propon_2646159.jpg) > ““According to Jay Belsky, a leading proponent of this view and a psychology professor and child care expert at the University of London, the reactivity of these kids’ nervous systems makes them quickly overwhelmed by childhood adversity, but also able to benefit from a nurturing environment more than other children do. In other words, orchid children are more strongly affected by all experience, both positive and negative. Scientists have known for a while that high-reactive temperaments come with risk factors. These kids are especially vulnerable to challenges like marital tension, a parent’s death, or abuse. They’re more likely than their peers to react to these events with depression, anxiety, and shyness. Indeed, about a quarter of Kagan’s high-reactive kids suffer from some degree of the condition known as “social anxiety disorder,” a chronic and disabling form of shyness.”” [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highly reactive children are more affected by both positive and negative experiences, making them vulnerable yet capable of greater benefit from nurturing. **In simple terms:** Sensitive kids feel extremes; nurturing helps. Key Takeaway Provide supportive environments. Themes sensitivity vulnerability environment development temperament Mood empathetic informative Type educational scientific When to use this quote - parenting - education - therapy - policy making Key Concepts Developmental psychology attachment theory neurobiology Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture without over‑protecting? - What experiences benefit sensitive children most? A Different Perspective Over‑protecting may hinder resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-care/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [High Reactive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-reactive-2311158/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Orchid Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orchid-children-2311157/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reactive Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactive-kids-2311156/) [Reactive Temperaments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactive-temperaments-2311154/) [Reactivity Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactivity-kids-2311155/) [Social anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-anxiety/) ## Related quotes > [“What scientists haven’t realized until recently is that these risk factors have an upside. In other words, the sensitivities and the strengths are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/what-scientists-haven-t-realized-until-recently-is-that-these-risk/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“High-reactive kids also tend to think and feel deeply about what they’ve noticed, and to bring an extra degree of nuance to everyday experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/high-reactive-kids-also-tend-to-think-and-feel-deeply-about-what-they/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“If a high-reactive toddler breaks another child's toy by mistake, studies show, she often experiences a more intense mix of guilt and sorrow than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/if-a-high-reactive-toddler-breaks-another-child-s-toy-by-mistake/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“High-reactive children pay what one psychologist calls “alert attention” to people and things. They literally use more eye movements than others to compare choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/high-reactive-children-pay-what-one-psychologist-calls-alert/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“high-reactive child’s ideal parent: someone who “can read your cues and respect your individuality; is warm and firm in placing demands on you without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/high-reactive-child-s-ideal-parent-someone-who-can-read-your-cues-and/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“The upsides of the high-reactive temperament have been documented in exciting research that scientists are only now beginning to pull together. One of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/the-upsides-of-the-high-reactive-temperament-have-been-documented-in/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“David Dobbs said in a piece for The Atlantic, “the very genes that give us the most trouble as a species, causing behaviors that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-barker/david-dobbs-said-in-a-piece-for-the-atlantic-the-very-genes-that-give/) [Eric Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-barker/) > [Good guilt is a product of love and responsibility. It is a natural, positive instinct that parents and good child care providers have. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marzollo/good-guilt-is-a-product-of-love-and-responsibility-it-is-a-natural/) [Jean Marzollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marzollo/) > [We do not put enough emphasis on early childhood years. We neglect children in this society; as a society we're guilty of child neglect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-babbitt/we-do-not-put-enough-emphasis-on-early-childhood-years-we-neglect/) [Bruce Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-babbitt/) > [The affordability and accessibility of child care are barriers for parents across our state and nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-affordability-and-accessibility-of-child-care-are-barriers-for/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [“When I wrote Lean In, some people argued that I did not spend enough time writing about the difficulties women face when they don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/when-i-wrote-lean-in-some-people-argued-that-i-did-not-spend-enough/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [My entire history with the Navy have been trying to get the Navy to focus on families and child care and all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/my-entire-history-with-the-navy-have-been-trying-to-get-the-navy-to/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [We will live to see the day that St. Patrick's Cathedral is a child-care center and the pope is no longer a disgrace to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/we-will-live-to-see-the-day-that-st-patrick-s-cathedral-is-a-child/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [On the average, older parents are more flexible, tolerant, understanding, and happy in child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/on-the-average-older-parents-are-more-flexible-tolerant-understanding/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) ## More by Susan Cain > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“where we fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. Our place on this continuum influences our choice of friends and mates, and how we make conversation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/where-we-fall-on-the-introvert-extrovert-spectrum-our-place-on-this/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“I worry that there are people who are put in positions of authority because they’re good talkers, but they don’t have good ideas,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/i-worry-that-there-are-people-who-are-put-in-positions-of-authority/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“He believes, as most of us do, that venting anger lets off steam. The “catharsis hypothesis”—that aggression builds up inside us until it’s healthily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/he-believes-as-most-of-us-do-that-venting-anger-lets-off-steam-the/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Soft power is not limited to moral exemplars like Mahatma Gandhi. Consider, for example, the much-ballyhooed excellence of Asians in fields like math and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/soft-power-is-not-limited-to-moral-exemplars-like-mahatma-gandhi/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Events like this don't give me the sense of oneness others seem to enjoy; it's always been private occasions that make me feel connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/events-like-this-don-t-give-me-the-sense-of-oneness-others-seem-to/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Social anxiety disorder”—which essentially means pathological shyness—is now thought to afflict nearly one in five of us. The most recent version of the Diagnostic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/social-anxiety-disorder-which-essentially-means-pathological-shyness/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Potential clients would walk out of Charlie’s office scared”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/potential-clients-would-walk-out-of-charlie-s-office-scared/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“So when introverts assume the observer role, as when they write novels, or contemplate unified field theory- or fall quiet at dinner parties- they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/so-when-introverts-assume-the-observer-role-as-when-they-write-novels/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Osborn’s theory had great impact, and company leaders took up brainstorming with enthusiasm. To this day, it’s common for anyone who spends time in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/osborn-s-theory-had-great-impact-and-company-leaders-took-up/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we've turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/extroversion-is-an-enormously-appealing-personality-style-but-we-ve/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“But as the word satyagraha implies, Gandhi’s passivity was not weakness at all. It meant focusing on an ultimate goal and refusing to divert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/but-as-the-word-satyagraha-implies-gandhi-s-passivity-was-not/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“The Extrovert Ideal has been documented in many studies, though this research has never been grouped under a single name. Talkative people, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/the-extrovert-ideal-has-been-documented-in-many-studies-though-this/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“introverts prefer to work independently, and solitude can be a catalyst to innovation. 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We neglect children in this society; as a society we're guilty of child neglect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-babbitt/we-do-not-put-enough-emphasis-on-early-childhood-years-we-neglect/) [Bruce Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-babbitt/) > [Good guilt is a product of love and responsibility. It is a natural, positive instinct that parents and good child care providers have. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marzollo/good-guilt-is-a-product-of-love-and-responsibility-it-is-a-natural/) [Jean Marzollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marzollo/) > [I see all kinds of people work hard all over the world, and some of them are barely making it. I don't just mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-butterfield/i-see-all-kinds-of-people-work-hard-all-over-the-world-and-some-of/) [Stewart Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-butterfield/) > [I took my kids everywhere. 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It has set up no concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-spender/feminism-has-fought-no-wars-it-has-killed-no-opponents-it-has-set-up/) [Dale Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-spender/) > [Feminism has fought no wars. It has killed no opponents. It has set up no concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-spender/feminism-has-fought-no-wars-it-has-killed-no-opponents-it-has-set-up-2/) [Dale Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-spender/) > [If you work a job outside of the hours a daycare that accepts government grants operates, if you are self-employed or you take classes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/if-you-work-a-job-outside-of-the-hours-a-daycare-that-accepts/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) [Browse all 199 Child care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-care/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“According to Jay Belsky, a leading proponent of this view and a psychology professor and child care expert at the University of London, the reactivity of these kids’ nervous systems makes them quickly overwhelmed by childhood adversity, but also able to benefit from a nurturing environment more than other children do. In other words, orchid children are more strongly affected by all experience, both positive and negative. Scientists have known for a while that high-reactive temperaments come with risk factors. These kids are especially vulnerable to challenges like marital tension, a parent’s death, or abuse. They’re more likely than their peers to react to these events with depression, anxiety, and shyness. 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