Carla Zappulla
Papers
1
Total Citations
124
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1
About
Carla Zappulla is a leading developmental psychologist whose research illuminates the cultural shaping of early socio-emotional development. Her primary focus lies in understanding temperament, particularly behavioral inhibition, and how it interacts with parenting and cultural context to influence children's social competence and school adjustment. Her most influential work, the cross-cultural study "A cross-cultural study of behavioral inhibition in toddlers: East–West–North–South" (2006, 124 citations), is a landmark investigation that directly compared the prevalence of inhibited behavior in over 600 toddlers from Australia, Canada, China, Italy, and South Korea. This study provided critical evidence that while behavioral inhibition is a biologically based temperament, its expression and meaning are profoundly moderated by cultural values, challenging universalist assumptions. Beyond this, Zappulla has made significant contributions to understanding the role of emotion regulation and maternal beliefs in child development. Her work is highly cited for its rigorous cross-cultural methodology and its nuanced integration of biological, relational, and cultural factors, making her a key voice in contemporary developmental science.
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