Adam Bradie

11-27-2018

Child Development

Shane

There are many influences that could explain why Shane is the way he is. One of the

primary reasons is due to his genetics. Despite the common belief that parenting techniques are

what determines a child’s personality, genetics is a much greater influence, accounting for as

much as 50% of his personality. This is demonstrated in twin studies, where identical twins

raised in different environments still shared many personality traits. If his parents are also

sociable but lack learning skills, then that might suggest that the traits are heritable. However, a

larger sample size would be necessary for any scientific validity. Shane was exposed to

language during his critical period, as otherwise he would lack basic language abilities and

would not have as much success socially as he does. This is due to the language ability being

experience expectant, so that Shane’s brain is ready for language input upon birth, and only

needs exposure to language in order to develop language skills.

Freud would suggest that Shane acts the way he does because he is in love with his

mother, seeking to emulate his father’s characteristics in order to avoid having his penis cut off

by his father. However, studies have shown that parent raising strategies have far less influence

on a child than that of the child’s peers. The Research of Judy Harris suggests that peer pressure

is a much greater influence on children, and that such an influence can be either direct or

indirect. Such indirect peer pressure can be seen in the studies by Solomon Asch, who showed

that people naturally conform to the actions of those around them, even when not explicitly told

or asked to do so. Phillip Zimbardo’s prison experiment study supposedly showed that this
effect is strengthened by the existence of multiple groups of peers. However, recent review of

the study has revealed that the actions of those in the prison study was provoked by Zimbardo

himself, calling its “findings” into question.

Parental influence can be primarily seen in how children develop attachments.

Depending on the child’s temperament, genetics, and parenting style, Shane will have a different

type of attachment to his parents. This attachment can vary from securely attached to insecure

avoidant to insecure resistant. Based on Shane’s social competence and his ability to develop

relationships, Shane was likely securely attached as a child, meaning that when left alone by his

parent, he was upset, and could only be consoled by the return of his parent.

No single one of these influences completely explain why Shane is Shane. Asking which

influence affected him most is like asking which side of the rectangle contributes to the area

more. All components affected the result and changing any individual part of Shane will likely

change the resulting child. However, Judy Harris’ research suggests that genetics is supposed to

account for 50% of Shane, while the other 50% is mostly Shane’s peer groups, with parents and

environment accounting for the remaining portion. These last two statements may seem

contradictory. They are.