Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 03, 2018 | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 12,434 |
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Surprisingly, it seems not. Research by Gary and Sandra Brase at Kansas State University has found that "baby fever" - a physical and emotional craving to have children - is a real phenomenon. But this desire to reproduce doesn't appear to be innate.
In her book The Maternal Instinct, Professor Maria Vicedo-Castello reviewed the history of scientific views about maternal instinct and concluded that "there is no scientific evidence to claim that there is a maternal instinct that automatically gives women the desire to have children". If we were biologically programmed to procreate, everyone would feel this longing - and lots of people don't.
Exactly why some women desire children and others don't remains unclear, but it seems to be influenced by a combination of external factors rather than evolutionary instinct. The Brases found that being around babies appeared to have a profound impact for many women - setting off an emotional trigger that tells our brains that now would be a good time to have one of our own. Others have argued that baby fever is a learned desire, shaped by social and cultural expectations that are so deeply ingrained they feel innate.
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 03, 2018 | Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 232 |
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 03, 2018 | Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 9,973 |
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Article
My rational side knows that I don’t need a child to give my life purpose.
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Article
My grief is not because a life without children is inherently inferior, but because it’s the loss of a future that I deeply wanted, that represented happiness and belonging.
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 04, 2018 | Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 7,834 |
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 07, 2018 | Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 106 |
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 07, 2018 | Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 5,632 |
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 08, 2018 | Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 2,364 |
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 08, 2018 | Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 5,632 |
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 09, 2018 | Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 2,364 |
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randomcfchick
I think it's a combination of nature and nurture, just like a lot of other human habits.
My parents had three kids, but are getting zero grandkids. I think they were hoping for some, but none of us are interested. Fortunately my parents are pretty good at leaving us the hell alone when it comes to adult life choices. If they had any major sads about it, they kept it to themselves. Dad and I had one conversation about it a few years ago. He asked a few questions that were a little bingo-ey, but I knew it was coming from genuinely wanting to understand so I answered honestly. He hasn't mentioned it since. Mom's never really asked.
I get along great with both parents, had an excellent childhood. They did a good job. They raised us to plan ahead, think critically, be responsible, and generally contribute to the world. There wasn't a lot of talk about "when you have kids". It wasn't a religious household. Education was emphasized. I think all those things together shaped my eventual CF decision.
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 09, 2018 | Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 9,973 |
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randomcfchick
The whole "baby fever/bio clock" is a social structure put into place to explain away the female sex drive. Hormones change as women get older, and one common effect is an uptick in sex drive. Since women are shamed about wanting and/or enjoying sexual activity, that increase in drive is somehow warped into a drive to have kids.
That's my theory, anyway.
Re: Baby rabies is definitely not biological November 09, 2018 | Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 2,364 |
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Cambion
In the same vein, why do people go "awwww" when a couple says they're trying to have a child? They just admitted they're having unprotected sex, most likely in copious amounts too. If I went up to someone and said I was gonna go bareback because fuck it I'm horny, they'd think I was being gross and say "TMI."