Milieu theory
The milieu theory (also developmental psychological empiricism ) is a sociological theory according to which the development of humans is exclusively shaped by the influences and experiences of their living environment. Accordingly, genetic or phylogenetic traits ( hereditary theory ) have no meaning. The Frenchman Hippolyte Taine put forward the theory in the 19th century.
This theory leads to a pedagogical optimism, since humans can be shaped by corresponding environmental influences in the respective desired form.
Both the milieu theory and the hereditary theory are partly ideologically based and their proponents fight - especially because of the possible social, educational and criminal policy consequences resulting from their approaches - the other position sometimes with catchphrases such as pessimistic, fascist, propagandistic or communist.
criticism
Critics of milieu theory refer to the neglected influence of phylogenetic behavioral programs via mutation and selection in milieu theory, which cannot or can hardly be influenced by environmental influences, and criticize the approach as utopian. The Austrian zoologist, evolutionary biologist and behavioral researcher Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1928–2018) wrote:
- “The doctrine called milieu theory now takes the view that we humans, apart from a few reflexes, learn all behavioral programs in the course of our youth development. The newborn is born like a blank slate, so to speak. [...] This belief in the exclusive cultural determination of human behavior is widespread. It underlies certain political utopias. According to milieu theory, not only the specific movement sequences, but also human tendencies, such as striving for rank or aggressiveness, are a product of upbringing. If one considers one or the other to be socially undesirable, then one speaks of faulty programming through upbringing and suggests bringing up the children in such a way that the undesirable tendencies do not develop. [...] In practice, however, people prove to be quite resistant to re-education efforts in very specific areas. "
Nevertheless, Eibl-Eibesfeldt gives the influences of the social environment on people an important role and places hopes on the "malleability of people":
- “The social environment undoubtedly shapes people to a significant extent, and our hope lies in the malleability of people, but innate dispositions can also be demonstrated. If you take them into account, society may save itself many experiments. "
The British psychologist Hans Jürgen Eysenck (1916–1997) contradicts in his book Heredity, Intelligence and Education - To the Critique of Pedagogical Milieu Theory of the view that environmental factors are more important than hereditary factors for the intellectual development of humans. Nevertheless, he recognizes an interaction between genetic makeup and the environment.
Individual evidence
- ^ Hartwig Schröder: Didactic dictionary, handbooks and textbooks of pedagogy. , Oldenbourg, 3rd ed., 2001, p. 247
- ^ Sabine Müller: Program for a new philosophy of science. Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 2004, p. 272
- ↑ The emergence of the milieu-theoretical approach and its temporary dominance in behavioral research and sociology is described by Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt cited in the following article . B. in Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt: The biology of human behavior - outline of human ethology. Piper, Munich 1984, pp. 11, 12 and 15 presented and assessed critically.
- ↑ Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt: Love and Hatred - To the natural history of elementary behavior , Piper & Co. Verlag, 7th edition, 1976, p. 20
- ↑ Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt: Love and Hass - To the natural history of elementary behavior , Piper & Co. Verlag, 7th edition, 1976, p. 263