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Human vs artificial intelligence
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Maternal instincts- are they just a myth or are they real? How can you tell when you are right or just want to be right? We claim that we know best for our children but do we really? There is no scientific test to prove maternal instincts exists, yet there are examples of it all around us. We can claim that maternal instincts are human nature, but not all women have maternal instincts. Mothers with maternal instincts know when their children are in danger. Are those mothers with this ability just more in touch with their emotions, or are there such things as maternal instincts. Maternal instinct is a presumed biological readiness, desire, or ability to mother a child. Speculations about such an instinct go back to ancient times and have figured predominantly in scientific theories since the time of Charles Darwin. Psychologists such as William James, William McDougall, and G. Stanley Hall argued that women have a special need and ability to protect and care for their young. In recent years, formal instinct theories have not found wide acceptance in academic psychology. However, the assumption of a biological basis for maternal behavior has figured in psychological speculations on the importance of perinatal "bonding" between mother and child. Scientists consider a human maternal instinct to be predictable response procreation. Males can impregnate many females, but females can transmit their genes to only a limited number of offspring. Females are assumed to be more willing to protect their genetic investment in any given child. Other problems plague theories of maternal instinct. For example, equating an instinct with a predisposition or with readiness makes the concept difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate sc... ... middle of paper ... ...s seems to be biologically meaningful in terms of adaptation to specific needs associated with successful infant care. Because of Tokyo’s research this type of knowledge provides the beginnings of a scientific understanding of human maternal behavior. This could be especially helpful in the future in developing treatments for the many problems and diseases that could affect the mother and infants relationship. Works Cited Magurran, Anne. "Maternal Instincts." N.p., n.d. Web. "Maternal Instincts - Home." Maternal Instincts. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. Press, The Associated. "Maternal Instinct in the Brain." The New York Times. The New York Times, 31 Dec. 2007. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. "Study: Maternal Instinct Is as Much Biological as It Is Social." Psychology -. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. "The SunFlower Post." The SunFlower Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
Psychologist, Richard A. Lippa, takes on the challenge of proving the concept that an individual’s idea of gender is derived from their brain, an issue otherwise recognized as “nature vs. nurture” in his book, Gender, Nature, and Nurture. Francis Galton, defines nature and nurture, as, “Nature is all that a man brings with himself into the world; nurture is every influence from without that affects him after birth.” Galton emphasizes the fact that nature produces the infant, with direct influences, determining both “growth of body and mind” (Galton) while nurture is an alteration of the environment for the comfort of the infant. Lippa establishes that each gender displays different levels of hormones, and physical capabilities, which will contribute to “nature.” An intriguing study conducted by Henry F. Harlow, whether the gender of a monkey can be determined, with or without the aid of parental influence. Regardless of whether the monkeys had a parent, the behaviors that they demonstrated in their natural environment were the same. The fundamental principle behind this is due to the fact that males were “influenced by the exposure to testosterone.” (122) As human beings, we vary in physical attributes, which subconsciously come into play when it comes to our preferences. This explains why the things that we do are gender
According to Klaus and Kennell, there are specific events, including skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant that must occur directly following the birth of a primate infant. This maximizes the chances of survival for the newborn not only because their mother is a source of food, but also because they will learn the culture they need to be successful in their environment. In the study, Klaus and Kennell test how much time a baby spends crying when they are separated from their mother. They concluded the increased time in babies that were separated was due to the anxiety that separation caused. The difficulty in this is that the cause of the baby’s distress is subjective. Also the notion of critical period proposed that the bonds and lessons taught during that time could not be developed later.
The relevance and subsequent interpretation of memories as they relate to one's desire to mother
...r members of the animal kingdom, humans have not evolved any longer with such strong maternal instinct. Nurseries probably trapped and imprisoned many a young mother who listened to society and did what she thought she was supposed to. And once they got there, maybe they realized it was not how they wanted to live their life. Yet, they could not abandon their families and children, and so they were trapped by the cradle, the toys, the bottles, the nursery.
We are all composed of basic traits and qualities, but it is the unique and enduring combination of these traits that make up our personality (Feldman & Feinman, 1947). The formation of our personality is heavily influenced by the relationship with our mother during our early childhood. To avoid misinterpretation, Bowlby (as cited in Hinde 1991) has clarified the term “mother” to be a primary caregiver who the infant becomes attached to. John Bowlby’s theory of attachment explains how the relationship or, attachment dynamic, has an effect on the way we interact with and understand the world as infants. This is known as the internal working model (IWM) and it includes how the infant understands the behavioural expectations of the world, their mother and themselves (Schore, 2000). An infant’s IWM are observed and categorised into three attachment styles known as secure, avoidant and ambivalent. This is done through Ainsworth 's strange situation procedure (SSP) (Behrens, Parker & Haltigan, 2011). As we grow older, and start to discover a sense of individuality, the maternal influences on
The attachment style that a child endures with their mother initially begins before the child is even born. In the mother’s womb, the infant becomes aware of their mother and father’s voices, where they begin to develop a bond with them and feel nurtured and comforted by the things they hear their parents sing and speak to them. According to Bowlby, the development of attachment takes place in four different phases and are reinforced as they grow older from the Preattachment (birth to age 6 weeks), attachment-in-the-making (age 6 weeks to 8 months), clear cut attachment (between 8 months to 1 ½ years of age) and the reciprocal relationship (from 1 ½ or 2 and on). As the child grows older, then begin to understand their parent’s feelings and motives and are able to organize their efforts and reciprocate the same i...
How adoption and twin studies have influenced the “nature verses nurture debate” has been a focal point for many researchers and people around the world which has caused controversy and many views regarding the topic. “Twin studies look into behaviour in identical and none identical twins and adoption studies separate the effect of nature from nurture, or at least do more successfully than twin studies.” ("The Usefullness of Twin Studies and Adoption Studies | psuea7", 2011, p.1) These studies are used to provide plenty of strong and reliable evidence that and positively influence the Nature vs. Nurture debate. “The Nature vs. Nurture debate is the scientific, cultural, and philosophical debate about whether human culture, behaviour, and personality are caused primarily by nature or nurture. Nature is often defined in this debate as genetic or hormone-based behaviours, while nurture is most commonly defined as environment and experience.” (("Nature vs. Nurture", 2014, p.1) Many controversial debates have surrounded this issue and many researchers are trying to find evidence to justify if twin and adoption studies have an effect on the nature vs. nurture debate. Twin and adoption studies have had a positive influence on the nature-nurture debate because research and evidence has identified different issues and quality information to help the nature-nurture debate evolve. This essay will outline these positive influences and will elaborate on the research and evidence that has helped the nature-nurture debate. The three influences of twin and adoption studies that will be discussed are the influence of researching the affects of behavioural issues such as schizophrenia, the influence of undergoing research on the drinking affects an...
The Human being is a most intriguing subject of study. From their impressive communication skills to their problem solving ability, time and time again they stand out as being an intelligent species that is diverse and responsive to their environment. One particular aspect that makes them most attractive is their ability to adapt to change and stress. Pregnancy is a great example that displays how the woman’s body adapts to major physical, psychological, and emotional changes that occur almost concurrently. These changes trigger an untidy heap of powerful emotions. From excitement and joy to fear and anxiety for both the expecting mom and her ...
A psychological mechanism is defined as an adaptation of human behavior that evolved due to evolutionary pressures. This paper focuses on the psychological mechanism of human mating strategies and the evolution of mate preferences. There are several theories to explain how differences in male and female mating strategies developed. This paper explores the parental investment theory, male mating effort as well as the role of different adaptive problems faced by males and females. The traits that humans find attractive in a partner are the ones that confer a reproductive advantage to the individual (Buss, 1994). Early in the literature there is evidence to support the theory that males and females differ in their mate preferences in such a way that males are unselective while females are choosy (Darwin 1871). However, there are also similarities in what each sex finds attractive. It is important to look at how these mating strategies evolved and why adaptive mate preferences continue to exist.
The mother to child bond has been interpreted to be instinctive to all mothers. Meira Weiss quotes
"Instinct." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
Emotional along with physical domain in prenatal stage is necessary for the growth of the baby (Watson & McDonald, 2007). Pregnancy is the time from contraception prior to after birth, is established to be a major part of a person’s life which will carry a great deal of challenges not just for ...
During the 1940’s, psychologist John Bowlby strongly believed early emotional connections between mother and child are an imperative part of human nature. He believed that because newborn babies are completely defenseless they are genetically programmed attach to their mothers in order to survive. He also believed that mothers are genetically programmed to be protective of their young, commonly feeling the need to keep their babies near them at all times. These ideas formed the foundation of Bowlby’s theory which were the stepping-stones of exploring the deep-rooted importance of the mother-child bond and the repercussions associated if this bond is impaired or broken, which would later come to be known as attachment theory.
Our parents teach us the actions that are acceptable in society, these behaviours often become habit and dictate how we conduct ourselves and communicate with others. The mother or guardian and child bond is particularly strong and so from birth the child learns to imitate its mother, this is the earliest and most consistent socialisation the child receives and therefore is most important. The words of Kim Atkins come to mind when stressing the importance of the mother/child bond, “human beings come into existence quite literally through the bodies of our other human beings, and our early survival depends upon the most intimate human interactions.” (Narrative Identity and Moral Identity: A Practical Perspective, Kim...
"The Reproduction of Mothering; Feminism and Psycohoanalytic Theory; Femininities, Masculinities and Sexualities; The Power of Feelings (Book Reviews)." Http://www.apadivisions.org. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999, 1999. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.