Critical Analysis Of The Mead-Freeman Debate - 1283 Words

Nature versus Nurture Controversy: Critical Analysis of The Mead-Freeman Debate Research Topic Outline In 1983, Derek Freeman challenged Margaret Mead’s 1928 ethnographic work Coming of Age in Samoa, Freeman asserted that Mead’s conclusion of adolescent behavior conflicted with important facts within the social sciences. Freeman’s critique sparked an intense controversy in anthropology regarding the concept of nature versus nurture. Freeman claimed that Boasians’ insisted on separating cultural determinism (nurture) from biological determinism (nature). Thus, various academic writings emerged in support of one concept over the latter. Even though, most modern-day scholars support both cultural determinism and biological determinism in†¦show more content†¦The articles range from claims for â€Å"bio-anthropology† to Mead protagonist who dispute the claims suggested by Freeman. Moreover, Caton’s work is a source for all publications relating to the Samoa controversy and the issues that were raised in anthropology as a result of it. Fur thermore, Caton’s work provides a guideline for understanding the various works produced by scholars because of the controversy, and the impact these works as well as the primary works of Mead and Freeman had on anthropology, other disciplines, and public opinion. Freeman, Derek 1983 Margaret Mead and Samoa: The Making and Unmaking of an Anthropological Myth. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. Derek Freeman in his work Margaret Mead and Samoa: The Making and Unmaking of an Anthropological Myth, discusses Margaret Mead’s fieldwork in Samoa in 1925 under the recommendation of her then professor Franz Boaz. Freeman maintains that the conclusion reached by Mead, that stresses associated with adolescence in the United States and other areas had cultural not biological causes, is wrong. Freeman’s work complies the evidence Freeman believes supports his claim that the conclusion reached by Mead was mistaken. Derek Freeman states that upon starting his field work in the islands of Western Samoa, he considered himself a cultural determinist. However, after two years within the field, he found that much of the work written by Mead in easternShow MoreRelatedAn Article On Real Life Situation Essay1727 Words   |  7 Pagesconclusion, a similar experiment is performed. If results are not similar, then the issue is put forward for scientific debate. These vigorous validit y checks and the use of the correspondence truth checks allows for a kind of safety netting. For example: New Zealand anthropologist Derek Freeman challenged the findings of Margaret Mead about samoan sexuality. Since then, his analysis has been torn apart by the general scientific community. Paul Shankman concluded in 2009 that, â€Å"there is now a largeRead MoreAn Evaluation of an on-Farm Food Safety Program for Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Producers; a Global Blueprint for Fruit and Vegetable Producers51659 Words   |  207 Pagesreduce risk. An illustrative case study to examine implementation trends was developed through the examination of current on-farm food safety issues and programs, with specific focus on the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP)- based initiative. In 2003, OGVG s 200 members had a combined farm-gate value of $350 million and represented 41 per cent of North American greenhouse vegetable production. Program implementation barriers identified included:Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Jud ge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesMaxwell, Saint Thomas University Brenda McAleer, University of Maine at Augusta Christina McCale, Regis College Don McCormick, California State University Northridge James McElroy, Iowa State University Bonnie McNeely, Murray State University Melony Mead, University of Phoenix Steven Meisel, La Salle University Nancy Meyer-Emerick, Cleveland State University Catherine Michael, St. Edwards University Sandy Miles, Murray State University Janice Miller, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee Leann Mischel