tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post4847128920944151741..comments2024-03-12T07:00:44.143-04:00Comments on CHILDMYTHS: It Ain't Necessarily So: Mistaken Conclusions From Adoption AnecdotesJean Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619393019771381980noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-7773466551141234312012-08-07T12:33:18.600-04:002012-08-07T12:33:18.600-04:00I meant variations in the phenotype, in this case ...I meant variations in the phenotype, in this case the developmental pattern of attachment-- such variations, as you say, are not necessary effects of variations in the genotype.Jean Mercerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14619393019771381980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-46632923132679688292012-08-07T11:58:34.463-04:002012-08-07T11:58:34.463-04:00No reason to suppose we don't still have natur...No reason to suppose we don't still have natural variations today. In fact I believe at the genetic level they have been able to demonstrate this, although the vast majority of variations have no or little effect.Fainiteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13427094878915761019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-28528998594933984302012-08-04T12:38:50.289-04:002012-08-04T12:38:50.289-04:00Not just equally well... but better, in my opinio...Not just equally well... but better, in my opinion. But taking that evolutionary perspective raises the question of how much natural variation there is in the development of attachment behavior and motivation. Unless there was natural variation, there couldn't be natural selection-- so do we still have some degree of natural variation today? I have no idea-- but it's certainly true that other developmental milestones like speech and independent walking show a good deal of variation in their timing.Jean Mercerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14619393019771381980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-76318373257707989132012-08-04T12:27:55.172-04:002012-08-04T12:27:55.172-04:00Of course one can equally argue that the reason wh...Of course one can equally argue that the reason why true attachment doesn't begin until about 6 months or so is for that very reason. From the evolutionary view it would be counterproductive given that human maternal death or inability to care for your own baby would have been so common in earlier times.Fainiteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13427094878915761019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-30143266159102790702012-08-01T13:23:23.234-04:002012-08-01T13:23:23.234-04:00Goodness, you aren't trying to bring common se...Goodness, you aren't trying to bring common sense into the discussion, are you?!<br /><br />No doubt some would say that various violent and cruel events of the past were all due to mothers' deaths in childbirth. This is basically what Philip Aries said about the results of historical abusive treatment of children, and what various "psychohistorians" like Lloyd deMause have argued about personality development. There's no way to test their claims, so they win, according to themselves. However, examination of their claims shows how implausible they are.Jean Mercerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14619393019771381980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-39121070160923058532012-08-01T12:23:55.443-04:002012-08-01T12:23:55.443-04:00One thing I've always wondered: in the past lo...One thing I've always wondered: in the past lots of women died in childbirth or shortly thereafter. If birth mothers have some mystical connection to their kids that can never be replicated by anyone else and leaves infants grieving, why weren't these problems worse in the past?theorclairnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-83348096403901354262012-07-30T07:23:16.081-04:002012-07-30T07:23:16.081-04:00I think that the things Stiffler quotes in her boo...I think that the things Stiffler quotes in her book, similarities between mothers and adoptees, are somewhat due to genetics, but not to any special bond formed in pregnancy. Purely anecdotal, but a lot of weird little quirks like preferring or hating a certain food, color, type of music, pet, field of study or profession might indeed be genetic to some extent. <br /><br />Genetics is complicated but not mystical, and relatives can just as easily not resemble each other as have a lot of similarities. The study Stiffler did was all self-reported, so it is only true for those who searched, reunited, and liked what they found, as you said. It does comfort me that my child has some traits in common with me and others in the bio family, but I can also see many that are just uniquely himself, and am glad of that as well. Nobody should have to be a clone or reflection of the mother to be accepted.<br /><br />APPPAH is over the edge in seeing what they want to see and drawing unwarranted conclusions, plus ignoring anything that does not confirm their bias.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com