Evolution of human parenting: Canalization, new types of learning, and mother-infant conflict

摘要: Human infancy is the mammalian extreme of an evolutionary trend towards a long, drawn-out life history. An form parental care and investment co-evolved. This drain on mother’s resources and, consequently, conflict results between interests mother infant. It in interest to reduce her as soon possible. not done all at once, but steps. The timing these steps dictated by highly canalized infant development. Every time new type learning (preadapted responsiveness certain opportunities) emerges infant, withholds related privilege/care. Consequently, mother-infant results, until gives reaches level independence. Mother’s behaviour period paramount importance: one hand it role sense infant’s educability (force) teach how use newly emerged abilities might not, or fully, have used otherwise. On other hand, may escalate become pathogenic. Mother bound stay within limits A deepened knowledge types helpful education during infancy. Control Systems Theory (CST) useful understanding bringing order many developments various functional domains.