The bookstore had 50% off and NurtureShock was getting rave reviews.
The Introduction explains the title:
“Nurture shock” as the term is generally used, refers to the panic–common among new parents–that the mythical fountain of knowledge is not magically kicking in at all.
This book will deliver a similar shock–it will use the fascinating new science of children to reveal just how many of our bedrock assumptions about kids can no longer be counted on.
The central premise of this book is that many of modern society’s strategies for nurturing children are in fact backfiring — because key twists in the science have been overlooked.
The resulting errant assumptions about child development have distorted parenting habits, school programs, and social policies. They affect how we think about kids, and thus how we interpret child behavior and communicate with the young. The intent of this book is not to be alarmist, but to teach us to think differently–more deeply and clearly–about children. Small corrections in our thinking today could alter the character of society long-term, one future citizen at a time. (pp. 6-7)
This book shocked me; but not with the idea that some social science findings are naive, and others are enlightening. I was shocked that the authors don’t see that, just as “key twists” were overlooked in interpretations of yesterday’s studies, “key twists” are waiting around the corner for today’s findings. The authors came to the wrong conclusion from their descriptions of wrong conclusions.
Pages: 1 2
3 comments ↓
This book is one sitting on my home shelves, waiting to be read. So this caught my eye. Hmm, now I don’t know!
Sarah,
It is good to read social science books, if they foster understanding and don’t devalue judgment. I want the publication of every social science, educational, or psychological study to be accompanied by the following true statement:
“The strategies and suggestions related to these findings may not be true, effective, or applicable in certain situations. Parents, teachers, and clients should remember to always use their judgment about when to apply, modify, or reject these behavioral suggestions.”
Common sense tells us that this is always true, so why have you never read it in the “Conclusions and Recommendations” section of a social scientific study? Is it because saying this would be saying the obvious, or is it because saying this would put their findings in a perspective they don’t want readers to take?
This is great. Encouraging others to think for themselves – exactly the type of child rearing/education I’d hope for, yet I know I personally didn’t receive. So I agree with you – are these publications hoping that you will not think for yourself? Interesting.
Leave a Comment