Primal prevention
escaping societal stress
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 chronic stress parents-to-be are more and more likely to endure during their offspring's primal period may deteriorate the intimate environment of the fœtus and newborn, 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 most critical period really starts at conception. It's indeed from this very beginning that an adequate humoral-tactile-affective environment of the fœtus and newborn 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 most critical period really starts at conception. It's indeed from this very beginning that an adequate humoral-tactile-affective environment of the fœtus and newborn is paramount to its growing a serene personality, good health and a strong resilience [60].
Personal + societal challenge
Young adults in our unequal, competitive societies may be at a loss to escape chronic stress and its various consequences for the child they're about to conceive. In the absence of social laws aimed at helping them meet the challenge, most of these future new parents must prepare to call on third-type kin caregiving.
Plus, 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].
Plus, 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 have to change
Disquieting social-epidemiology observation results in unequal modern societies will have to 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 may be the first sign that a major cultural blind must disappear [11]. Because sooner or later everyone will have to be given the choice of primal prevention, that is, the possibility to give their coming child a sustained attention in a secure, affective environment.