Hi I essentially agree with Marie (having grown up without a father, I pretty much have to!). But "doing fine" with two same-sex parents does not deny the possibility of differences, such as (HYPOTHETICALLY!) boys growing up to be less aggressive and more caring. Also, there is a literature showing positive associations with father involvement in child-rearing, which is not the same as father absent unless one thinks of father (completely) absent as 0 involvement.
Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca Department of Psychology University of Winnipeg Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9 CANADA >>> "Helweg-Larsen, Marie" <helw...@dickinson.edu> 30-Oct-09 10:02 AM >>> Aside from the problems of generalizing from degu pups to human infants I think the study was lacking some control groups (perhaps they were included in the study which I have not read). In order to conclude that the changes were due to the "absent father" (aside: do degu pups have "fathers" - I am imagining lots of son-father chats, trips to the playground, etc) it seems that you would need to compare what would happen if you replaced the father with another male caregiver or with another female caregiver. It makes sense that having more caregivers might be advantageous (in humans as well) but do they really have to be related and does the gender matter (the article said that the male/female parents gave the same type of care)? As an aside I found the Washington Post writing pretty heterosexist. The first sentence reads : "Conventional wisdom holds that two parents are better than one. Scientists are now finding that growing up without a father actually changes the way your brain develops." I think we have pretty well established that kids do fine when raised by two same-sex parents. Marie Washington Post article http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704754804574491811861197926.html **************************************************** Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. Department Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology Kaufman 168, Dickinson College Carlisle, PA 17013, office (717) 245-1562, fax (717) 245-1971 Office hours: Mon/Thur 3-4, Tues 10:30-11:30 http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/psych/helwegm **************************************************** From: Don Allen [mailto:dal...@langara.bc.ca] Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:41 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] Article in WSJ on study how brain develops "without Dad." Hi Joan- Quite a stretch to go from degu pups to human infants. The inrer-species differences are profound. Just consider the vast differences in the effects of olfactory stimulation between humans and rodents. I have never been impressed with the "evidence" that suggests that the absence of a parent (through death, divorce, etc.) has any significant lasting effect on children. I am even less impressed by studies which try to show that putting kids in day care somehow harms the kids. In fact, I have a standing bet of $10,000 that no one can reliably determine whether an adult was raised in day care or at home by observing their behaviour and their interactions with others. Let me know if you want to put some money on the table and I'll provide you the details of the wager. -Don. ----- Original Message ----- From: Joan Warmbold Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:26 pm Subject: Re: [tips] Article in WSJ on study how brain develops "without Dad." To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" > http://mensnewsdaily.com/sexandmetro/2009/10/29/this-is-your- > brain-without-dad/ > > This study on the impact of life without Dad for degu pups was > presentedat the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago this > month and recently > published in the journal Neuroscience. Fascinating though, at > least for > me, not particularly surprising. We have known for some time > how an > infant's brain is very plastic and therefore, primed to be strongly > influenced by early experiences. Another fascinating study with > degu > pups studied the impact on the pups who were removed from their > caregiversfor just one hour a day. To me this latter study has > potential (just > potential) significance for parents considering early day care > for their > children. > > Joan > jwarm...@oakton.edu > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) > Don Allen, Retired Formerly with: Dept. of Psychology Langara College 100 W. 49th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. Canada V5Y 2Z6 Phone: 604-733-0039 --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
