Dear LBC members,
I am sorry I am late. I have put myself in the corner. There were matters that required my attention, however. Really.
The Old Fossil
This topic was brought to us this week by Grannymar. It’s a good one! Check out what the other members have had to say – clickable list on the right hand side of the screen – and I’m betting many of them are actually on time.
Oh, wait, I’m not late. I was just early. I had paid no attention to the topic until last night and I had other pressing matters by then. But, I had already written on the topic earlier in the week via the infamous synchronicity of Ramana. It was contained in the post on epigenetics that immediately preceded this one:
lab rats raised by “licking” mothers, mothers who lick the babies and give them attention, lab rats that grow up to be cuddly and sociable. Non-licking moms raise anti-social rats. It can be shown that these tendencies are created by the experience by swapping litters at birth. The non-licking moms raising offspring of licking moms raise unsociable little characters. The licking moms getting the offspring of the non-lickers, raise sociable pups.
This probably has very real implications for humans. What I haven’t read or seen is whether these antisocial pups grow up to not lick their offspring. In other words, do they pass this down through the generations. Just as frightening is that it is possible that they would pass along the genetic tendencies toward antisociality to their own offspring. Has a chain of difficulty been started at the early raising of these pups that may set a negative trend.
All because their momma didn’t touch and caress them when they were little. Is this what happens to whole neighborhoods, to whole socioeconomic groups, to groups of people who eventually become social biters – which equates to gang bangers in our urban environments – simply because they needed caring touch?
It may well be more complex for people. But … then again … it may not.
The family I grew up in could not be called tactile, but I certainly learned the difference when I married. Thankfully Elly is very fond of touch and I love to see her gentle care in action with all age groups.
ReplyDelete@Grannymar
DeleteThere are many kinds of touch between humans. Someone obviously did something right with you, because you set the warmest hearth on the Internet. You always connect with people.
Well, if they are connectable! :)
AN interesting subtext as it relates to me - you say things skip generations and it's out grandparents that may have the most impat on us. Both my mother & I were raised by my grandmother as my mother was a single mom in the early 50s. Beyond physical similarities and a decent work ethic I saw no commonalities between my late mother and myself. Maybe I was too angry to notice them.
ReplyDelete@shackman
DeleteIt isn't quite that consistent. The jumping generations example is very specific. I have to watch the show again, but it refers to increased probability you will have diabetes if your grandfather experienced famine while in puberty or your grandmother was exposed to famine while in utero or some such. It is not the general rule, just an amazing and consistent result.
The possibilities for understanding it raises are enormous, though.
Great take on the topic. Think about all of the children whose fathers are absent. Think about all the touching they miss out on, and how that must impact them.
ReplyDelete@Delirious
DeleteI am wondering the same types of things. What of our behavior and experience causes creates deficits down the line? And what reverses deficits that have become the assumed experience for generations?
Dad was a musician, gone at night, slept all day. So, we rarely saw him. Neither of my parents showed affection or actually held a conversation with us kids until we were in our twenties.
ReplyDeleteI learned from those experiences. We are in the middle of a family situation at the moment and I sat down with my 8yr-old granddaughter for a pow wow. How do you feel? What do you want to happen? And so on.
Maybe she will learn that children should not be left out.
Blessings ~ Maxi
@Maxi
DeleteI am glad to hear that you are actively working to correct a lack of touch in your own past rather than carry it forward. Good for you and good for your granddaughter. I wish you the best in what sounds like a difficult situation.
Our father was not much of a touchy feely type but that was more than made up for by our mother. It showed up later in life with my father totally alienating himself from his children! There is something in touch that builds bonds.
ReplyDelete