Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)

What shapes us more: our DNA, or the way we’re raised? ARGUING YES: Robert Plomin, Professor of Behavioral Genetics at King’s College London Nancy Segal, Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton and Director at the Twin Studies Center ARGUING NO: Paige Harden, Psychology Professor at the University of Texas Ann Pleshette Murphy, Author & Parenting Expert Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates Recent twin studies: ⁠Parenting in Childhood Predicts Personality in Early Adulthood: A Longitudinal Twin-Differences Study⁠ (APA, 2025) ⁠Genetics of monozygotic twins reveals the impact of environmental sensitivity on psychiatric and neurodevelopmental phenotypes⁠ (Nature Human Behavior, 2025) ⁠Longitudinal associations between cognitive ability and socioeconomic status are partially genetic in Nature⁠ (Scientific Reports, 2026) Join the conversation on Substack—share your perspective on this episode and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for curated insights from our debaters, moderators, and staff. Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and TikTok to stay connected with our mission and ongoing debates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices