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, which more and more parents-to-be are likely to endure during their offspring's primal period, may alter the intimate environment of the fœtus and newborn with heavy, possibly lifelong consequences.
While it has long been recognized that our social skills are revealed during early childhood [1], current epigenetic evidence indicates that the most critical period of our development really starts at conception. It is indeed from this very beginning that an adequate humoral-tactile-affective environment allows the fœtus and newborn to build a serene personality, a strong resilience [60] and good somatic and psychic healths.
While it has long been recognized that our social skills are revealed during early childhood [1], current epigenetic evidence indicates that the most critical period of our development really starts at conception. It is indeed from this very beginning that an adequate humoral-tactile-affective environment allows the fœtus and newborn to build a serene personality, a strong resilience [60] and good somatic and psychic healths.
Personal and societal challenges
Young adults in our unequal, competitive societies may be at a loss when trying 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.
As a matter of fact, it is hard to understand how public-health professionals – who largely determine the decisions of politicians – may still behave (in so-called developed countries) as if they ignored the distant early warning from an exploding new knowledge in life sciences. Or is it ? [64].
As a matter of fact, it is hard to understand how public-health professionals – who largely determine the decisions of politicians – may still behave (in so-called developed countries) as if they ignored the distant early warning from an exploding new knowledge in life sciences. Or is it ? [64].
What will change
Disquieting results of social-epidemiology observations 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 may be the first sign that a major cultural blind spot is about to be cured [11]. Indeed, sooner or later, everyone will implement primal prevention, because eveyone will have not only the desire, but also the undefiled possibility to devote their sustained attention to their coming child in a secure, affective environment.