JB: What do developmental psychologists have to say about the
power of the genes? HARRIS: That's a curious thing, actually.
Nowadays most of them are quite willing to admit that children
are born with predispositions to develop in a certain way, and
they're even willing to admit that these predispositions have a
genetic basis. But it doesn't seem to have dawned on them that
children get their genes from their parents. They still haven't
acknowledged the fact that whatever genetic predispositions the
children have, there's a good chance the parents have them too.
A child who was born timid has a better-than-average chance of
being reared by a timid parent. A child who was born aggressive
has a better-than-average chance of being reared by an
aggressive parent. And the parents' genes are going to influence
how they rear their kids. Timid parents are likely to be wimpier
in their child-rearing methods; aggressive parents will be
quicker to punish; affable parents will dole out more affection
and praise. So every