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BBC programme ‘Bang Goes The Theory’ last night continued the debate about nature vs nurture.
Adults were told that they were taking part in a test of toddlers’ reaction to gender-specific toys. In fact, the experiment was to determine how much of the choice of toy was down to nature and how much was gender stereotyping by adults.
One toddler was a girl dressed as a boy. The adult tried to interest the child in a fire truck and a helicopter. The truck was dismissed but the helicopter was not.
A boy, dressed as a girl, rejected a doll, despite the best efforts of the adult.
The deduction was made that there is an element of natural influence, but the conclusion was drawn that choice is often influenced by adult pressure. A girl interested in a helicopter was frowned upon less than a boy interested in a doll.
One of the presenters visited a safari park. A group of juvenile monkeys was exposed to a selection of toys that they had never previously seen. The male monkeys seemed to like toys with wheels, whereas the females went for dolls; in one case, one of the young females took a small stuffed animal and ran up a tree.
You can watch the programme at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mqjjg/Bang_Goes_the_...
Comments
I saw it
Interesting snippet in a fairly light "science" program aimed at a young audience.
I don't think they decided one way or another, which is hardly surprising given the small sample size and the unrigorous nature of the tests, and the vagueness of the questions they were asking. Still, every question that's asked helps to make the viewer think about things, possibly in a way they didn't before.
The big problem was that they framed the question as nature or nurture, whereas we all know it can be some of each in varying amounts.
My take: definitely a small genetic predisposition at the very least, for some of us there will be some pre-birth environmental factors such as AIS, and there may be some cultural pressure one way or another during early childhood. I don't think that it's exclusively one thing or another, especially given the wide range of experiences this group can attest to.
Penny
I agree, Penny
I think that the thing for everyone to learn and remember, is that the variety of creation is far greater than us mere humans can ever imagine. Nature revels in diversity; why can't humanity?
Susie
I tried to watch it
But was told it was only available for viewing in the UK.
Amy