Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
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What is the nature‑versus‑nurture debate that frames this episode?
Hello, welcome to Open to Debate. When it comes to parenting, there is no perfect parent, but there is increasing pressure on parents to be perfect. Books, TikToks, articles, podcasts, a veritable fire hose of contradictory advice to help parents get it right. But maybe It doesn't matter as much as we think. This debate, originally recorded in 2019, is a staff favorite. And if you are watching this debate, you will notice our old name Intelligence Squared US is in the background, but we are open to debate. Let's get to it. The way that we were raised, we are all the product of that one way or the other, but to what extent? Parents are driven these days to produce the child who is the happiest or the best or the smartest or fill in whatever your superlative is.
And then there's the whole question of free range or helicopter or tiger or what zip code do you choose to live in or can you live in, and what about education, and what about the food you give your child? It is so much to think about and Worry about, but what if science is telling mothers and fathers, don't sweat it, it's out of your control more than you think, because DNA is making most of the big decisions for you. This, since ancient time, has been a persisting quandary, usually called nature versus nurture. But because of new evidence based on DNA research and on twin studies and on sibling studies, we are reviving. The controversy that has revived itself because we think it has the makings of a fresh debate.
So let's have it. Yes or no to this statement: parenting is overrated. I'm John Donvan. I stand between two teams of two who are truly experts in this topic. They will be arguing for and against this resolution. As always, our debate will go in three rounds, and then our live audience here at the K Playhouse at Hunter College in New York City will vote to choose the winner. And as always, if all goes well, civil discourse will also win. Our resolution again, parenting is overrated. Let's meet the debater starting with the team arguing for the resolution. Please welcome Robert Ploman. Robert, you are a professor of behavioral genetics at King's College in London. You're a leading scholar in this field, truly a leading scholar.
You are the author of a recent book, Blueprint, How DNA Makes Us Who We Are. Robert, it's so great to have you with us here tonight.
Thank you very much, John.
And ladies and gentlemen, your debating partner, let's welcome Nancy Siegel. You are a professor of psychology and a director of the Twin Study Center at California State University in Fullerton. You are the author of six books on twins. You're working on yet another book. Thanks so much for being with us tonight.
My pleasure to be here, John.
Thanks so much, Nancy. And we have two debaters arguing against the resolution. Parenting is overrated. Please first welcome Paige Harden. Hi Paige. Uh you're a professor of psychology at the University of Texas. There in Texas you had the Developmental Behavior Genetics Lab. You co direct the Texas Twin Project. Welcome.
Thanks for having me.
And your teammate Anne Plouchette Murphy and you're a therapist. You're a parenting counselor. You're an author. You are a parenting correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America. We both once worked there. Nice to see you again. You served as editor-in-chief of Parents Magazine for over a decade. It is great to have you here.
Thanks so much.
Thank you, Paige and Anne. Our team arguing against the resolution. Parenting is overrated. Our four debaters. And so on to the debate itself, round one. Round one is comprised of opening statements by each debater in turn. They will be six minutes each. And here to argue first in support of the resolution, parenting is overrated is Professor of Behavioral Genetics at King's College London, Robert Pluman.
Thank you, John. I don't think parenting is overrated if what we're talking about is the great joy that people get from raising children. It's a lifelong sort of relationship and it many people derive meaning from that. I I know I get a great pleasure out of my five children, the youngest of whom is now forty, as well as my six grandchildren.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the nature‑versus‑nurture debate that frames this episode?
0:00–18:49
2
How do the pro‑resolution experts (Robert Plomin & Nancy Siegel) argue that parenting is overrated?
18:49–36:34
3
What evidence do the anti‑resolution experts (Paige Harden & Annie Pleshette Murphy) present against the claim that parenting is overrated?
36:34–55:22
4
How do the debaters challenge each other's arguments during the first round of the debate?
55:22–1:05:13
5
What audience questions are raised about genetics, environment, and the role of parenting?
1:05:13–1:13:24
6
How do the closing statements summarize the case for and against the resolution?
1:13:24–1:22:10
7
What were the voting results and which side was declared the winner?
1:22:10–1:24:13