This article is a book review of the Nurture Assumption written by Judith Rich Harris. Harris’s main belief in the book is that parents must share credit with the child’s own nature, and most importantly with the child’s peers. Harris’s book focuses on the importance of peers and genes. Genetics explains only approximately half of the variation in people’s personalities and abilities. Everyone acknowledges peers is important, but instead of treating it as a nuisance in children’s socialization, Harris makes it a key player. Harris found that children’s attachment to their peer groups is not irrational, it’s essential. There is a fear to her message, that parents aren’t all that matters, will somehow encourage the neglect or outright abuse of children.
After reading this article I agree with the author’s review of the Nurture Assumption, where the author Judith Rich Harris challenges the idea that the personality of adults is determined chiefly by the way they were raised …show more content…
Examples include bonding, birth order and stimulation. The author mentions how Harris focuses on genes and peers, especially peers. There is a lot of evidence towards genes and peers being key players in children’s development. In the following article gene-environment transactions in childhood and adolescence: Problematic peer relationships this was stated “in the past few years several studies have been published that provide important insights into how genetic factors work together with perhaps the most worrisome peer-related experiences – i.e., peer victimization and affiliation with deviant peers – in influencing child development.” (Horwitz & Neiderhiser, 2015) it shows how there are multiple resources supporting Harris’s beliefs. Another article states that “multi-level regression models indicate that domain-specific teacher-child interactions focused on the intent and content of cognitive facilitation were positively associated with children’s peer sociability,
After reading this article I agree with the author’s review of the Nurture Assumption, where the author Judith Rich Harris challenges the idea that the personality of adults is determined chiefly by the way they were raised …show more content…
Examples include bonding, birth order and stimulation. The author mentions how Harris focuses on genes and peers, especially peers. There is a lot of evidence towards genes and peers being key players in children’s development. In the following article gene-environment transactions in childhood and adolescence: Problematic peer relationships this was stated “in the past few years several studies have been published that provide important insights into how genetic factors work together with perhaps the most worrisome peer-related experiences – i.e., peer victimization and affiliation with deviant peers – in influencing child development.” (Horwitz & Neiderhiser, 2015) it shows how there are multiple resources supporting Harris’s beliefs. Another article states that “multi-level regression models indicate that domain-specific teacher-child interactions focused on the intent and content of cognitive facilitation were positively associated with children’s peer sociability,