Argument53【StruggleToTriumph】by dump 1.2

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TOPIC: ARGUMENT53 - Thirteen years ago, researchers studied a group of 25 infants who showed signs of mild distress when exposed to unfamiliar stimuli such as an unusual odor or a tape recording of an unknown voice. They discovered that these infants were more likely than other infants to have been conceived in early autumn, a time when their mothers' production of melatonin-a hormone known to affect some brain functions-would naturally increase in response to decreased daylight. In a follow-up study conducted earlier this year, more than half of these children-now teenagers-who had shown signs of distress identified themselves as shy. Clearly, increased levels of melatonin before birth cause shyness during infancy and this shyness continues into later life.


The author of the argument claims that the shyness is caused by the increased levels of melatonin before birth during infancy and continues into later life. To support the claim, the author cites a study of a group of 25 infants who showed signs of mild distress to unusual odor and unknown voice. In the study, researchers found that more infants were easily conceived in early autumn, when the level of melatonin increases. The argument also cites a follow-up study that more than half of these children who showed signs of distress identified themselves as shy. Close scrutiny of the argument will reveal that the conclusion suffers from several problems.

To begin with, an obvious problem is that no evidence has been provided to prove that the increased production of melatonin can cause shyness. The author doesn't show any information about the function of melatonin. Thus we cannot ensure whether the melatonin has an influence on infants. It is mentioned in the argument that melatonin is a hormone known to affect some brain functions, but the research doesn't point out that the effect of melatonin would have an effect whether on the mothers or on the infants.

In addition, the argument cites a study of a group of 25 infants who show signs of mild distress to unfamiliar stimuli, and a follow-up study of the children who have grown up. In the study of 25 infants, the argument provides no evidence to prove that the mild distress was caused by shyness, so we cannot exclude that it is just a physical reaction that infants disgust with the unusual odor and unknown voice. In the follow-up study, the argument makes no mention of the children's living environment. As is known, surrounding environments play a very important role in shaping a child's character. Therefore, it is highly possible that the children's shyness is caused by external factors, such as narrow communication circle, parent's influence and so on. The two studies are unconvincing to persuade people believe that the mild distress is caused by a child's shyness. And the argument arbitrarily concludes that the shyness will continue into later life. After all, a child's character could change in the acquired nurture.

In conclusion, to strength the conclusion, the argument must provide more explicit evidence to establish the relationship between melatonin and shyness. The above analysis shows that the two studies is not persuasive to prove that the mild distress is caused by shyness, as many other factors have not been considered, such as the physical reaction that causes mild distress, surrounding environment and acquired nurture.