Cast:
Scene 1, 3 & 5
Jenna
Host
Nathan
Thomas Bouchard
Kevin
Watson
Scene 2
Jenna
Betty (Springer)
Betty (Lewis)
Nathan
Linda (Springer)
Linda (Lewis)
James Alan
James Allan
Kevin
Jim Springer
Jim Lewis
Mr. Lee
Priest
Scene 4
Jenna
Albert
Kevin
John Watson
Scene 1. The Debate
Presents a debate TV- show program, with the hostess, sitting in the middle;
Bouchard and Watson being on each side
Under Bouchard "Team Nature" and under Kevin there should be a
corresponding sign saying "Team Nurture"
Nathan is Thomas Bouchard.
Kevin will be John Watson.
Host (Jenna): We'll be looking into the controversial issue of Nature verses
Nurture today! We have two representatives from each side, Mr. Bouchard here
representing Nature, and Mr. Watson representing Nurture. Mr. Bouchard here
will present his study, the Minnesota Twins study, and Watson will then show
what he found with Little Albert.
So first off, we'll see what Mr. Bouchard has to say. Please, explain your stance.
Bouchard (Nathan): Well, I believe that Nature plays a more vital role in
hereditary behavior, especially in intelligence. I believe that genes plays a more
important part in determining who we are later in life - our personality,
behavior, and intelligence. Traits are passed from our parents, approximately
half from each parent. In the Minnesota Twin's study, I took twins from around
the world, separated and unseparated twins, and gave them personality tests to
determine how much of their intelligence was inherited, and how much of their
intelligence is determined by the environment. This was determined by
comparing the IQ differences (using IQ tests) between twins tested together and
twins tested apart, and looking at the difference between the two.
Scene 2. The Minnesota Study
Nathan- Let's look at a fascinating case in my Minnesota separated Twins study,
The aim of my study was to test the heritability of IQ by comparing separated
identical twins, thereby two individuals with identical genetics, but rose in
different environments.
I traced up two interesting twins called Jim Springer and Jim Lewis, the two were
separated at birth and raised in different families
I reunited them at the age of 39 to test similarities and differences in personality,
interest and IQ, which would then come from genetic inheritance.
Interestingly enough, the two twins were similar in personality, interest and
intelligence although living in different environments.
- In school, they were both interested in math and carpentry, but hated spelling
- They both had similar professions; Lewis became a security guard and Springer
a deputy sheriff
But this is where it gets really exciting,
- Both married women named Linda
- Both divorced their Linda's and re- married to women named Betty
- The both have sons: James Alan Lewis and James Allan Springer.
Thereby it can be concluded that the similarities that exist in twins are due to
genetics rather than environment, he also concluded that genetics play a large
role in influencing behavior.
How to film (Voice is coordinated to this):
The Jim twins; Kevin at two different occasions; to separate who is who; tape "L"
(for Lewis) or "S (for Springer) on his shirt for which one he is.
We should show how he likes math and hate spelling by filming SAT scores
We'll film both marrying Linda (Nathan wearing different outfits) (one where he
proposes and one when they get married with a priest)
Then we'll film the divorce, as fighting.
Jenna- Betty (for both Jim twins)
Nathan- Jim (Alan & Allan)
Thereby in the end scene we could film us three as the Lewis family: Kevin = Jim,
Jenna= Betty, Nathan= James. And then us three as the Springer family (same
characters)
And then we'll film their similar IQ scores
Scene 3. Limitations
Host: Very interesting Mr. Bouchard. Mr. Watson, do you have anything to say?
Watson (Kevin): Yes I do. While the study is certainly impressive, there are a few
flaws and limitations in the study.
First off, Bouchard made the assumption that the environment for each
separated twin provided the same experience, called the "equal environment
assumption". There was also NO adequate control to establish the frequency of
contact between the twins, along the with the fact how Bouchard had ethical
issues in reuniting the twins - deciding to separate twins without consent FROM
the twins. Bouchard also gained recruits through media coverage - affecting the
sample.
Not only that, but adoption agencies tend to try and place children into families
with a similar environment that they lived in before. This is called Selective
Placement, and twins would be put in similar environments. Thus, we cannot
confidentially say that the environment was truly different between the two
separated twins. Hereby, let me present my study on Little Albert, which
supports that environment effects behavior to a larger extent, that genes doScene 4. Little Albert
Narration: The study used a nine-month old baby named Little Albert.
Testimonies from his wet-nurse and caretakers showed that he was a healthy,
normal child. A test at the beginning involved giving Albert a small stuffed white
mouse to play with, as well as a white rabbit, a dog, and building bricks. Albert
showed no fear of any of them, and his first instinct was to interact with these
objects.
*Scene of Albert playing with objects*
Narration: However, Albert was scared of loud noises, and would jump and is
startled when a loud noise was produced from behind him, created by striking a
metal bar.
*Scene of Albert being scared of loud noises*
Narration: Then, after the third day, we would present the white rat to Albert.
When he touched it, we produced this loud sound behind him, startling him.
After 5 repetitions of this over 7 days, we then presented the rat alone. Albert at
first looked at the rat tentatively, before coming close to touching it. When he did
touch it, the loud sound was created, scaring Albert. Afterwards, the blocks were
given to him, and he played happily with them. However, when the white rat was
presented again, Albert started crying, and then turned and crawled very fast.
*Show Albert again*
Narration: Albert also then showed fear when the white rabbit was presented to
him, along with cotton - white furry things, basically.
He learned fear of small, white furred objects.
Scene 5: Scarr and Weinberg (1977)
Narrator: This study focused on families that rose adopted and natural children.
Because they were raised together, the environment they grew up in is the same.
Thus, differences in intelligence and parent-child IQ could be attributed to genes
rather than the environment. However, interestingly enough, the researchers
found no significant difference in the IQ correlation. This study supports the idea
of environment having the most influence, as the adopted children, most of them
from poor, lower class backgrounds, had similar scores as the natural children,
from wealthy middle class backgrounds.
Narrator: This is quite interesting. The IQ scores of the children were in the
range of siblings, and showed no significant difference from each other. If we
were to say that genes influenced intelligence more than environment, the fact
that they were raised in similar environments should not have made such a clear
impact on their IQ scores. This supports the claim that
Scene 5.
Return to the studio again, which will give us a chance to present more
arguments for and against and then eventually we'll just end the show with you
two starting to fight or something
And when we're done with the video we can just discuss, like present for the
class about the application thingy.
 Have a nice day!