48 pages 1 hour read

Judith Rich Harris

The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1998

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Nurture Assumption by Judith Rich Harris challenges the belief that parenting is the primary influence on child development. Harris uses scientific evidence to debunk this assumption and introduces "group socialization theory," suggesting children are more influenced by peers than parents. She explores various topics, including human evolution, peer relationships, and cultural variations in parenting practices. The book addresses human development through traumatic experiences.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Nurture Assumption by Judith Rich Harris challenges the conventional belief that parenting shapes children's personalities, proposing instead that peers play a more significant role. While some praise its innovative perspective and extensive research, others criticize its overreliance on controversial theories. The book’s stimulating arguments spark important debates in psychology and parenting.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Nurture Assumption?

The ideal reader for The Nurture Assumption by Judith Rich Harris is someone intrigued by child development and parenting theories. Comparable to readers of The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker and The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller, they question traditional notions of nature vs. nurture and enjoy scientific debates.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Psychology

Parenting

Science / Nature

Themes

Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Life/Time: Coming of Age

Genre

Children's Literature

Education

Social Science