The Nurture Assumption
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Psychology, Popular psychology |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Judith Rich Harris |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
| Parent | Free Press |
The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do is a 1998 publication by psychologist Judith Rich Harris, released by the Free Press, with an updated edition issued in 2009. The work was shortlisted for the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
Summary
Harris disputes the widely held notion that parenting is the primary determinant of adult personality. She critiques research that connects personality traits to parental upbringing, highlighting that many such studies neglect to account for genetic influences. For example, parallels between aggressive behaviors in parents and their children may stem from inherited characteristics rather than parental impact. Research involving adopted children frequently reveals little resemblance in personality with their adoptive parents but a stronger alignment with their biological parents.
Although genetic factors significantly contribute to personality development, even identical twins separated at birth display differences, suggesting additional influences. Traditionally, psychologists have attributed these differences to "nurture," meaning the parental environment; however, Harris argues this term is often confused with "environment" more broadly. Numerous twin studies demonstrate that home environment exerts minimal effect on personality: identical twins raised apart show similar levels of difference as those raised together, and adoptive siblings’ personalities tend to resemble those of unrelated children. Harris proposes that random developmental variations, or developmental noise, rather than parenting approaches, may account for these discrepancies.
She also challenges the purported impact of birth order, characterizing its effects as subtle phenomena detectable only through extensive data analysis rather than consistent, direct evidence.
A central contribution of Harris' work is her focus on the influence of the peer group in personality formation. Children frequently mirror the speech patterns, accents, mannerisms, and styles of their peers instead of their parents—this is particularly observable in immigrant households. Her "group socialization theory" asserts that children develop their identities by aligning with peer groups and internalizing their norms and behaviors, offering a framework for understanding personality development beyond family dynamics.
Reception
The Nurture Assumption was met with predominantly favorable critiques. Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky described it as "grounded in robust scientific evidence." Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker predicted the book "will be recognized as a pivotal moment in the evolution of psychological thought."
Conversely, Wendy Williams, an expert on environmental influences on IQ, contends that "numerous rigorous studies demonstrate that parents can influence children's cognitive skills and behavior." Psychologist Jerome Kagan argues that Harris "overlooks significant data that contradicts her conclusions."
Harris firmly denies that her book advocates neglect or mistreatment by parents. She emphasizes that caregivers will continue to nurture children "for reasons akin to why one treats friends and partners kindly—without expecting to shape character—just as great-grandparents cared for their offspring despite doubts about nurture's significance."
See also
Reviews
- "Do Parents Matter?", Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker, August 17, 1998.
- Psychpage evaluation, Richard Niolon.
- "Peer Pressure", Carol Tavris, New York Times, September 13, 1998.
- Further book critiques