In Shenk's argument, he describes the critical role of the environment on an organism's future characteristics and traits, replacing the old model of G + E with GxE to demonstrate the myriad complex interactions between genetics and environment (20). Mice with exactly the same genome raised in different locations with no obvious source of environmental difference have been shown to have very different characteristics from each other (129). All organisms have this potential for environmental influence, but humans, with their remarkably plastic brains and intelligence have an exponentially larger capacity for environmental influence (131).
This being said, parents, being the most present influence in a child's life, have an enormous potential to shape their child's personality - for better or for worse. The recent discovery of the epigenome that is exponentially more complex than the traditional genome proves that a parent's own lifestyle choices and environmental influences can be passed down to future generations. The parent's role in their child's future is enormous. With this knowledge in mind, should parents actively try to plan for their child's future? How would they be able to carefully select the right environmental influences to give their child the best characteristics possible for success? And with the possibility of epigenetic markers from a parent's own good or bad life decisions being passed down, should they actively make the best decisions for their child's future? Is this level of planning even possible at all? Or should they just leave it to chance, knowing that these interactions are likely too complex to directly plan for?
David Whisler (dwhis428@gmail.com)
The idea that parents are a huge part of a child's environment is absolutely true. A parent's actions inside the home, as well as outside the home, can greatly influence a child and his or her future. As infants get older, and even throughout their whole lives, they depend on their guardians and elders to learn and grow as people. For many animals, they "learn to solve problems by observing the behavior of other individuals. Young wild chimpanzees, for example, learn how to crack oil palm nuts with two stones by copying experienced chimpanzees" (Campbell 1128). So experienced parents' or elders' actions greatly affect young chimpanzees since the young learn and copy important survival skills from their elders. They have to teach them the most efficient and helpful survival skills to best ensure their survival and health later in life.
ReplyDeleteSince parents are normally such a huge part of a child's life, children tend to look to them for advice about their future. Although I don't believe parents should dictate what their child should and shouldn't do in their future, I believe that parents should make an effort to push their children in the direction they believe will be most successful and fulfilling for their child. While there are so many other factors that go into a child's or teenager's actions and decisions, such as their peers' actions or a celebrity's decisions, parents have the most power and control over their children. They are the ones usually paying for college and who have the power to either sign or not sign a permission slip or waiver form. They are able to help guide their children through life. Nancy E. Hill, a professor of social psychology at Duke believes that "In order for children to reach their potential, they need their parents as informed advocates" (http://today.duke.edu/2004/08/success_0804.html). I believe it's important for parents to know what makes their children happy and to not actively plan but make an effort to actively guide their lives towards a good education and environment. A good education and environment creates more opportunities and heightens their chances for success and happiness.
Decisions made and actions took by those that children trust and look up to can show what is right or wrong, what's expected or looked down on. How a parent dresses or treats others affects how his or her children will dress and treat others. For example, Wolfgang Mozart "had an entire family driving him to excel with a powerful blend of instructions, encouragement, and constant practice" (Shenk 63). Wolfgang's musical skills skyrocketed with his family's positive yet strict attitudes and encouragement. Mozart's family's ideals were what pushed him into succeeding in the music field. So their supportive yet disciplinary behaviors directly affected Mozart's future behaviors. I think it's very important for parents to set a positive example for their children to learn and grow from, allowing them to become the best they can be.
Lili Malone (lilimalone@ameritech.net)