The Reality of Maternal Instincts

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Maternal instincts- are they just a myth or are they real? How can you tell when you are right or just want to be right? We claim that we know best for our children but do we really? There is no scientific test to prove maternal instincts exists, yet there are examples of it all around us. We can claim that maternal instincts are human nature, but not all women have maternal instincts. Mothers with maternal instincts know when their children are in danger. Are those mothers with this ability just more in touch with their emotions, or are there such things as maternal instincts. Maternal instinct is a presumed biological readiness, desire, or ability to mother a child. Speculations about such an instinct go back to ancient times and have figured predominantly in scientific theories since the time of Charles Darwin. Psychologists such as William James, William McDougall, and G. Stanley Hall argued that women have a special need and ability to protect and care for their young. In recent years, formal instinct theories have not found wide acceptance in academic psychology. However, the assumption of a biological basis for maternal behavior has figured in psychological speculations on the importance of perinatal "bonding" between mother and child. Scientists consider a human maternal instinct to be predictable response procreation. Males can impregnate many females, but females can transmit their genes to only a limited number of offspring. Females are assumed to be more willing to protect their genetic investment in any given child. Other problems plague theories of maternal instinct. For example, equating an instinct with a predisposition or with readiness makes the concept difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate sc... ... middle of paper ... ...s seems to be biologically meaningful in terms of adaptation to specific needs associated with successful infant care. Because of Tokyo’s research this type of knowledge provides the beginnings of a scientific understanding of human maternal behavior. This could be especially helpful in the future in developing treatments for the many problems and diseases that could affect the mother and infants relationship. Works Cited Magurran, Anne. "Maternal Instincts." N.p., n.d. Web. "Maternal Instincts - Home." Maternal Instincts. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. Press, The Associated. "Maternal Instinct in the Brain." The New York Times. The New York Times, 31 Dec. 2007. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. "Study: Maternal Instinct Is as Much Biological as It Is Social." Psychology -. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. "The SunFlower Post." The SunFlower Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.

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