Primal prevention
What it is all about
Observations in humans [2, 3, 4, 5] – as in other primates and mammals [6, 7, 8, 9, 10] – indicate that any chronic stress parents may endure during their offspring's primal period of life will deteriorate the intimate environment of the fœtus, with possibly lifelong, heavy consequences.
While it has long been recognized that we develop social skills during early childhood [1], current epigenetic evidence indicates that the critical period starts at conception. It's indeed from this very beginning that an adequate humoral-tactile-affective environment of the fœtus is paramount to its growing a serene personality, good health and a strong resilience [60].
While it has long been recognized that we develop social skills during early childhood [1], current epigenetic evidence indicates that the critical period starts at conception. It's indeed from this very beginning that an adequate humoral-tactile-affective environment of the fœtus is paramount to its growing a serene personality, good health and a strong resilience [60].
A personal and societal challenge
Young adults in our competitive, unequal societies may be at a loss to escape chronic stress and its various consequences on the child they might like to conceive. In the absence of social laws aimed at helping them meet the challenge, most of these potential new parents must prepare to call on third-type kin caregiving.
Meanwhile it's hard to understand how public-health professionals and politicians in so-called developed countries may still behave as if they ignored the distant early warning from an exploding new knowledge in life sciences. Or is it ? [64].
Meanwhile it's hard to understand how public-health professionals and politicians in so-called developed countries may still behave as if they ignored the distant early warning from an exploding new knowledge in life sciences. Or is it ? [64].
What will change
Disquieting social-epidemiology observation results in unequal modern societies will be re-interpreted as reflecting the global effect of epigenetic impacts of societal stress [65] on individuals during their primal period.
Privileged young people already allowed to take a career break during their child’s primal period are a first sign that a major cultural blind spot is about to disappear [11]. Sooner or later, everyone will be given the choice of primal prevention.
Privileged young people already allowed to take a career break during their child’s primal period are a first sign that a major cultural blind spot is about to disappear [11]. Sooner or later, everyone will be given the choice of primal prevention.