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Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development: From Research to Practice and Policy
The field of cognitive psychology has expanded rapidly in recent years, with experts in affective and cognitive neuroscience revealing more about mammalian brain function than ever before. In contrast, psychological problems such as ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression are on the rise, as are medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune disorders. Why, in this era of unprecedented scientific self-knowledge, does there seem to be so much uncertainty about what human beings need for optimal development?
Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development asserts that human development is being misshaped by government policies, social practices, and public beliefs that fail to consider basic human needs. In this pioneering volume, scientists from a range of disciplines theorize that the increase in conditions such as depression and obesity can be partially attributed to a disparity between the environments and conditions under which our mammalian brains currently develop and our evolutionary heritage. For example, healthy brain and emotional development depends to a significant extent upon caregiver availability and quality of care. These include practices such as breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and parental social support, which have waned in modern society, but nevertheless may be integral to healthy development. As the authors argue, without a more informed appreciation of the ideal conditions under which human brains/minds develop and function, human beings will continue to struggle
with suboptimal mental and physical health, and as problems emerge psychological treatments alone will not be effective. The best approach is to recognize these needs at the outset so as to optimize child development. Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development puts forth a logical, empirically based argument regarding human mammalian needs for optimal development, based on research from anthropology, neurobiology, animal science, and human development. The result is a unique exploration of evolutionary approaches to human behavior that will support the advancement of new policies, new attitudes towards health, and alterations in childcare practices that will better promote healthy human development.
Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development asserts that human development is being misshaped by government policies, social practices, and public beliefs that fail to consider basic human needs. In this pioneering volume, scientists from a range of disciplines theorize that the increase in conditions such as depression and obesity can be partially attributed to a disparity between the environments and conditions under which our mammalian brains currently develop and our evolutionary heritage. For example, healthy brain and emotional development depends to a significant extent upon caregiver availability and quality of care. These include practices such as breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and parental social support, which have waned in modern society, but nevertheless may be integral to healthy development. As the authors argue, without a more informed appreciation of the ideal conditions under which human brains/minds develop and function, human beings will continue to struggle
with suboptimal mental and physical health, and as problems emerge psychological treatments alone will not be effective. The best approach is to recognize these needs at the outset so as to optimize child development. Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development puts forth a logical, empirically based argument regarding human mammalian needs for optimal development, based on research from anthropology, neurobiology, animal science, and human development. The result is a unique exploration of evolutionary approaches to human behavior that will support the advancement of new policies, new attitudes towards health, and alterations in childcare practices that will better promote healthy human development.
- GenresPsychologyNonfiction
490 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 24, 2012
I recommend this book because it compiles research from leading experts in development and includes critical commentary. The latter is a welcome addition to compilations of this sort. It includes little (if any) original research and/or perspectives, but the review material is neatly organized and comprehensive. That complement aside, all the included perspectives (even critical ones, like that of Belsky) implicitly assume that humans have stopped evolving.
According to the editors in their opening and closing chapter (and echoed by several other contributors), humans are driving themselves to extinction, primarily because our children are damaged by the developmental environment we moderns (particularly Americans) have created for them. In the closing chapter, the editors say this:
“Current culturally-derived childrearing practices diverge from these evolved, species-typical practices, potentially undermining the evolved human nature benefits that were common among foraging hunter-gatherers. Thus, at all points of human evolution, the nature of human nature depends on the ontogenetic niche. When the niche moves far from the expected environment for a social mammal, the ensuing trouble is not surprising. And we see trouble for health and social well-being throughout societies where certain traditional cultural practices, such as extended periods of attachment bonding, breastfeeding, cosleeping, and alloparental care, have diminished” (p. 455).
Whoa! Extending the niche is the very essence of humanity! Sequestering our children in front of the TV or with “Baby Einstein,” giving them iPhones instead of face-to-face socialization, transforming their play from free roving multi-age groups to tightly monitored classrooms, modifying mother bonding to better fit with working moms, and reducing breastfeeding from the ancestral 2 to 5 years to 6 months (or less), to name just a few “modern evils,” characterize a brand new niche. No doubt, there are “growing pains” associated with it, such as the social disruptions so alarmingly prevalent today, and which anyone can imagine, like teen pregnancy, increasing psychological dysfunctions, etc.
Haven’t such “growing pains” characterized all of human history? When our ancestral small groups spit and ventured into new territory, was everything just fine for the children? Wouldn’t years of serious turmoil follow the march of humans from Africa, into the agricultural age, through the Iron age, and into the modern age? Of course it would! Why is the last few years of obvious pain and social turmoil so different? Why can’t it be viewed, instead, as yet another migration through life on earth…or maybe the stars? The editors seem to prefer the idyllic life of early hunter-gatherers, but why not look ahead to space traveling juveniles. I say, “shoot for the stars, which means serious disruptions must be accommodated as we continue to evolve.”
According to the editors in their opening and closing chapter (and echoed by several other contributors), humans are driving themselves to extinction, primarily because our children are damaged by the developmental environment we moderns (particularly Americans) have created for them. In the closing chapter, the editors say this:
“Current culturally-derived childrearing practices diverge from these evolved, species-typical practices, potentially undermining the evolved human nature benefits that were common among foraging hunter-gatherers. Thus, at all points of human evolution, the nature of human nature depends on the ontogenetic niche. When the niche moves far from the expected environment for a social mammal, the ensuing trouble is not surprising. And we see trouble for health and social well-being throughout societies where certain traditional cultural practices, such as extended periods of attachment bonding, breastfeeding, cosleeping, and alloparental care, have diminished” (p. 455).
Whoa! Extending the niche is the very essence of humanity! Sequestering our children in front of the TV or with “Baby Einstein,” giving them iPhones instead of face-to-face socialization, transforming their play from free roving multi-age groups to tightly monitored classrooms, modifying mother bonding to better fit with working moms, and reducing breastfeeding from the ancestral 2 to 5 years to 6 months (or less), to name just a few “modern evils,” characterize a brand new niche. No doubt, there are “growing pains” associated with it, such as the social disruptions so alarmingly prevalent today, and which anyone can imagine, like teen pregnancy, increasing psychological dysfunctions, etc.
Haven’t such “growing pains” characterized all of human history? When our ancestral small groups spit and ventured into new territory, was everything just fine for the children? Wouldn’t years of serious turmoil follow the march of humans from Africa, into the agricultural age, through the Iron age, and into the modern age? Of course it would! Why is the last few years of obvious pain and social turmoil so different? Why can’t it be viewed, instead, as yet another migration through life on earth…or maybe the stars? The editors seem to prefer the idyllic life of early hunter-gatherers, but why not look ahead to space traveling juveniles. I say, “shoot for the stars, which means serious disruptions must be accommodated as we continue to evolve.”
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