"The Nurture Assumption"

"The Nurture Assumption," a concept popularized by psychologist Judith Harris, argues that children's personalities and behaviors are shaped more by their peers and social environments than by their parents' upbringing. While parents certainly influence their children, Harris contends that friendships and social interactions play a crucial role in development. This challenges traditional views that parenting is the primary factor in a child's traits and highlights the importance of peer relationships in forming identity and behavior. Essentially, it suggests that the influence of friends can be as significant, if not more so, than family dynamics during childhood.