| Abstract: | Responds to the comments of N. Shpancer (see record 1998-00006-001), R. L. Richmond (see record 1998-00005-001), and J. R. Browning (see record 85-00001) on the article of J. Kagan (see record 83-35876) that discusses the psychological assumptions of: the influence of early experience, the generalizability of psychological processes, the primacy of sensory pleasure, and the issue of the relevance of animal studies and language to the human mind. Addressing Shpancer, Kagan reaffirms his stance on the assumption of the influential nature of early experience, by referencing the February 3, 1997, issue of Time magazine in which there appeared a supportive article entitled "How a Child's Brain Develops." Kagan agrees with Richmond's suggestion that language is unique to the human condition, however, he suggests that human guilt and shame are probably more relevant. Finally, Kagan addresses Browning's suggestion that self-esteem is a motivational variable in social psychology by noting that one cannot know if a behavior does maintain or increase a person's self esteem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
