Jerome Kagan Report
Jerome Kagan
While it might be common knowledge for many today, Jerome Kagan was instrumental in developing the concept that a person’s temperamental disposition (the aspects an individual’s personality) effects many of the outcomes in their life. Kagan, who was born in 1929 in Newark, New Jersey, began his studies at Rutgers University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1950. Kagan went on to receive his master’s degree at Harvard and then to Yale where he obtained his Ph.D. in psychology in 1954. Kagan spent most of his career studying children and the effects of their differing temperamental behaviors. From a nature versus nurture standpoint, Kagan had a more “nurture” outlook. He strongly believed that the environment a child grew up in would greatly effect their development. After finding little evidence to support this theory however, Kagan turned to the “nature” side and began to look at how biological factors might influence behavior. Kagan began working considerably with younger children in order to gather research and conduct studies. He examined areas of fear and apprehension shown in different children and made connections about how biological conditions might increase that child’s susceptibility to these emotions. Through these inquiries he discovered that the first two years of a child’s life are vital in the development of self-awareness, memory, moral principles, and symbolism. In order to accurately receive results, Kagan followed his test subjects through their lives from infancy to adulthood. Following those selected children through an extended amount of time allowed Kagan to evaluate unique personality traits held by each child. Kagan now believes that a child’s emotional and behavioral conduct is influenced and molded not only through environmental happenings but, more importantly, through biological factors. He’s concluded that children act in either one of two ways: inhibited or uninhibited. A person who portrays oneself
While it might be common knowledge for many today, Jerome Kagan was instrumental in developing the concept that a person’s temperamental disposition (the aspects an individual’s personality) effects many of the outcomes in their life. Kagan, who was born in 1929 in Newark, New Jersey, began his studies at Rutgers University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1950. Kagan went on to receive his master’s degree at Harvard and then to Yale where he obtained his Ph.D. in psychology in 1954. Kagan spent most of his career studying children and the effects of their differing temperamental behaviors. From a nature versus nurture standpoint, Kagan had a more “nurture” outlook. He strongly believed that the environment a child grew up in would greatly effect their development. After finding little evidence to support this theory however, Kagan turned to the “nature” side and began to look at how biological factors might influence behavior. Kagan began working considerably with younger children in order to gather research and conduct studies. He examined areas of fear and apprehension shown in different children and made connections about how biological conditions might increase that child’s susceptibility to these emotions. Through these inquiries he discovered that the first two years of a child’s life are vital in the development of self-awareness, memory, moral principles, and symbolism. In order to accurately receive results, Kagan followed his test subjects through their lives from infancy to adulthood. Following those selected children through an extended amount of time allowed Kagan to evaluate unique personality traits held by each child. Kagan now believes that a child’s emotional and behavioral conduct is influenced and molded not only through environmental happenings but, more importantly, through biological factors. He’s concluded that children act in either one of two ways: inhibited or uninhibited. A person who portrays oneself
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