SHS110
“Nature vs. nurture:
Alcoholism,
Criminal behavior,
Sexual Orientation”
Spring 2001
TenHuisen, McCarthy
MT: Bear 123 , x3694
WM: Morton 226, x3313
The Science, Humanities and Society minor is intended to explore the interaction of
scientific and technological developments with everyday life and other intellectual
disciplines. Many facets of modern life are in fact informed by this interaction; obvious
examples are medical ethics and the impact of technological innovations such as
computers or automobiles.
The core seminar (SHS 110) is intended to provide the students with an introduction to
interdisciplinary academic work, and to explore some of the topics that are aptly studied
by means of an interdisciplinary approach.
This semester we are going to examine the debate between nature and nurture.
Throughout history this has been a very important aspect of the examination of human
and animal behavior. Are we essentially products of our environment or our heredity?
The answer of course, at the moment, is that we are products of a complex matrix of
genetic and environmental influences that interact to create our unique physical and
emotional attributes. In the popular parlance, though, and throughout history, it has been
assumed that genetic and environmental influences are separate, or that one supersedes or
excludes the other. We will explore the debate as it relates to three topics: alcoholism,
criminal behavior and sexual orientation.
Disclaimer:
This course will involve the explicit discussion of sex and alternative
sexualities. If this makes you uncomfortable, this may not be the course for you.
Course Assignments:
Attend class and participate…………………………………………………..10%
Watch three assigned films at evening showings, or at home with another
member of the class.
Group Project, centered in one of the three major topical areas……………..35%
Presentations will be scheduled on appropriate days.
Reaction papers to two of the three assigned films………………..…………20%
Due in class the day of the film discussion.
Two small reaction papers (based on assigned readings).……………….…..20%
Due on the day of the discussion of the selected reading.
Library assignment; 2 journal articles (short comparison paper)..…………..15%
Course Readings:
Electronic Reserves:
Everything except for Jekyll & Hyde and the articles you must find
yourselves is compiled in Randall Library as electronic reserves.
Find them under “Course Reserves”, SHS 110, on Randall Library Home
Page
You may want to print out copies for discussion; take notes at least.
For viewing on your home computer, download Acrobat and select PIN.
Unit I:
William H. Newell and William J. Green, “Defining and Teaching
Interdisciplinary Studies”, from Improving College and
University Teaching, vol 30, no. 1
John P. Wiley, “Two Cultures—Never the Twain Shall Meet?”,
Smithsonian, 1997, 28(7)
CP Snow, “The Two Cultures”
John Locke, “Essay Concerning Human Understanding”
John L. Casti, Ch 3 from Paradigms Lost (New York, 1989), “It’s
in the Genes”
Unit II:
W. Miles Cox, “Personality Theory and Research”, article from K.
Leonard and H. Blane, Psychological Theories of
Drinking and Alcoholism (New York, 1987)
Selections from Alcoholics Anonymous
Unit III:
Cesare Beccaria, “On Crime and Punishment”
Stephen Jay Gould, Ch 4 from The Mismeasure of Man (New
York, 1981), “Measuring Bodies: Two Case Studies on the
Apishness of Undesirables”
(Robert Louis Stevenson, available at UNCW Bookstore)
Unit IV:
Heidi Levine and Nancy J. Evans, “The Development of Gay,
Lesbian, and Bisexual Identities”, Ch 1 in Nancy J. Evans
and Vernon A. Wall, Eds., Beyond Tolerance: Gays,
Lesbians and Bisexuals on Campus (Lanham, MD, 1991)
Alfred C. Kinsey, et.al., Sexual Behavior in the Human Male
(Philadelphia and London, 1948); Sexual Behavior in the
Human Female (Philadelphia and London, 1953)
William H. Masters, Virginia E. Johnson, Robert C. Kolody,
Human Sexuality, 4th Ed., (New York, 1992), excerpts
Sigmund Freud, “Essays on Sexuality”, essays 1 & 2
Padgug and Halperin: Robert Padgug, “Sexual Matters:
Rethinking Sexuality in History”; David Halperin, “Sex
Before Sexuality: Pederasty, Politics and Power in
Classical Athens”; selections from Martin Duberman, et.
al., Eds., Hidden from History: Rediscovering the Gay and
Lesbian Past, (New York, 1989)
Exodus program literature (?)
Available at UNCW bookstore:
Unit III: Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde
Course Calendar:
UNIT I: SCIENCE, HUMANITIES & SOCIETY; NATURE vs NURTURE
Jan 08
Jan 10
Jan 12
Introduction
Get to know you
Interdisciplinary work , DISCUSS NEWELL
Jan 15
Jan 17
Jan 19
HOLIDAY
Science/Humanities, DISCUSS WILEY
Science/Humanities, DISCUSS SNOW
Jan 22
Jan 24
Jan 26
Nature vs nurture—introductory lecture; READ LOCKE
DISCUSS CASTI
DISCUSS CASTI
UNIT II:
ALCOHOLISM
Jan 29
Jan 31
Feb 01
Feb 02
Introductory debate
Introductory lecture
FILM, My Name is Bill W., 7:30 PM THURSDAY
Discuss AA readings
Feb 05
Feb 07
Feb 09
Discuss film
LIBRARY PRESENTATION, Rebecca Warren
DISCUSS COX
Feb 12
Feb 14
Feb 16
Discuss genetic causality arguments
Discuss environmental causality arguments
Comp day, no class
Feb 19
Feb 21
Feb 23
Discuss articles, small presentations
student presentations
student presentations
UNIT III:
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
Feb 26
Feb 28
Mar 01
Mar 02
Introductory debate
Introductory lecture; READ BECCARIA
FILM, A Clockwork Orange, 7:30 PM THURSDAY
Comp Day; no class
Mar 05
Mar 07
Mar 09
HOLIDAY
HOLIDAY
HOLIDAY
Mar 12
Mar 14
Mar 16
DISCUSS FILM
DISCUSS GOULD
DISCUSS GOULD
Mar 19
Mar 21
Mar 23
Discuss genetic causality arguments
Discuss environmental causality arguments
DISCUSS STEVENSON
Mar 26
Mar 28
Mar 30
Discuss library articles, presentations
Student presentations
Student presentations
UNIT IV:
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Apr 02
Apr 04
Apr 05
Apr 06
Introductory debate
Introductory lecture
FILM, Ma Vie en Rose, 7:30 PM THURSDAY
Comp day; no class
Apr 09
Apr 11
Apr 13
DISCUSS LEVINE AND EVANS
Discuss film
HOLIDAY
Apr 16
Apr 18
Apr 20
DISCUSS FREUD
DISCUSS KINSEY, MASTERS & JOHNSON
DISCUSS PADGUG and HALPERIN
Apr 23
Apr 25
Apr 27
Discuss genetic causality arguments
Discuss environmental causality arguments
Discuss library articles, presentations
Apr 30
May 02
Student presentations
Student presentations