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The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a scientific journal.
"A recent study of eighteen rhesus monkeys provides clues as to the effects of birth order on an individual's levels of stimulation. The study showed that in stimulating situations (such as an encounter with an unfamiliar monkey), firstborn infant monkeys produce up to twice as much of the hormone cortisol, which primes the body for increased activity levels, as do their younger siblings. Firstborn humans also produce relatively high levels of cortisol in stimulating situations (such as the return of a parent after an absence). The study also found that during pregnancy, first-time mother monkeys had higher levels of cortisol than did those who had had several offspring."
Write a response in which you discuss one or more alternative explanations that could rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation(s) can plausibly account for the facts presented in the argument.
While it may be true that the birth order has some relation with individual stimulation, but this author does not make a cogent argument that it is birth order influence the level of hormone. Although it may be plausible link the stimulation with birth order, but this argument is rife with holes and weaknesses, and thus, not enough to support the idea of birth order affect the level stimulation.
Citing the study of monkey and human, author reports that the first born infant monkey, first born human, and the first-time mother have relatively higher cortisol. Although the first born children or the fist-time may have higher cortisol, a concrete connection between the level of stimulation and the order of birth has not been strongly made. Though the level of cortisol is higher in the first, this may be results of the age matters. The much old of infant will have relatively higher level stimulation, for their organ that secrete the hormone are much well developed, while the mothers that have several offspring are older may not able to produce such high hormone. To reinforce the argument, the author may be aided by the survey the relationship between age and the hormone level from stimulation.
Furthermore, the author implies that under stimulation condition the first born infant monkey has higher cortisol than those born after it. While it may have the higher level of that hormone, there is no so much direct relationship between the level hormone and the order of born. The younger infant may have not develop sense of dangers, they just do not know about what happens when he encounter an unfamiliar monkey. Or they just can not distinguish other monkeys from their parents. So it is easy to see that when the younger infant grows up, it may have the same level of the hormone as the first infant at the same stage. Unless the author provides more details, this can not be sufficient enough to support the author's opinion.
Building on study, author claims that the fist mother had more cortisol than those who have more than one offspring. Though the first mother has more hormone level, it may be irrelevant to the number of offspring they have. Whether the first mother and other mother have the same characteristics, that is, whether some them will intrinsically secrete more hormone, we do not know. If it not the results may be true. If there is difference, we are not clear whether it is caused by their natural difference or the times they have had infant. In the reports of author, we do not know whether the fist mother has the same condition as the other mother. If it is, the proposal of author may be true. But if it is not, then it may be the condition difference that leads to the hormone difference between first mother and the other mother, not the offspring they have had. No matter whether there is difference between the monkey and regardless of whether the mother monkey is in same condition or not, this author does not make the relationship of hormone level and the offspring they had.
The first born infant of human and monkey may have higher cortisol level in stimulation condition, and the first-time mother monkey may have higher hormone as well. For these reasons, the birth order may affect the individual level of stimulation. But this author does not provide effectively evidence to support that.
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发表于 2012-8-3 10:19:15
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