How can new ideas challenge established theories?
How can new ideas emerge outside the academic research framework?
What is the evidence needed before a new idea becomes widely accepted?
Why is it so complex to try and explain the behavioural development of children?
How does research from different disciplines throw light on aspects of a particular problem?

Activity 2: Do Your Parents Matter?

In her book, ‘The Nurture Assumption: Why children turn out the way they do’, Judith Harris makes the suggestion that:

‘Children would develop into the same sort of adults if we left their lives outside the home unchanged, and switched all the parents around.’

How true might this be for you?

1. First, make a list of some of the ways that you think that your home life has contributed to how you are now.

2. Next, imagine your school and social life had remained pretty much the same, but that you had lived with another family you know well.

3. Then make a list of some of the ways in which:

you might be the same
you might be different

4. Compare lists with the other members of your group. Discuss whether this small and rather unscientific survey lends any support to Judith Harris’ idea.

Activity 3: Do Not Blame the Parents

What might be the consequences for the personality and behaviour of their children if parents believe Judith Harris’ idea that ‘parents do not matter’?

Would parents change the way they treat their children?

Would the attitude of the justice system to young offenders change?