Thank you for the compliment. I shluld also say that you are, by far, the most dispassionate of all the folk who have ever disagreed with me on the subject.
I am fully aware that my anecdotal statements are only one step up from useless. I am also aware that just not hitting is not enough to be a good parent, firm expectations and good role-modelling are right up there in importance. Along with a swarm of other things.
The innate characteristics I refer to, though, are anything but sentimental (those who know me would laugh hyseterically at the thoughtof me sentimental).
They are simply basic biology: any social mammal that is not accepted by its parent(s) is going to be food for something, possibly even mom. Most culture is acquired by imitation.
Designing a good piece of objective research in this area would be extraordinarily difficult, but I think it might be worthwhile.
Continued slow response warning. My heavy work season is just starting and I'm heading out soon for some outdoor project prep.
doing experimental research on children is indeed (and should be) quite impossible.
tailoring non-experimental observational research (through very careful sample selection from among extant families) to yield the same conditions as a designed experimental regimen could work, but would be exceedingly difficult to pull off - uncontrolled variables would slip in, and most would not be readily identifiable.