Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development : From Research to Practice and Policy

Oxford University Press Inc

Discover the crucial link between evolution, early experiences, and human development. This book delves into how our evolutionary heritage and the environments we grow up in shape our brains, emotions, and overall well-being. It explores the scientific evidence from fields like affective and cognitive neuroscience to explain the rise in psychological and medical conditions such as ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune disorders. Authors argue that current societal practices and beliefs often misshape human development by not accounting for fundamental human needs. Learn how practices integral to healthy development, like breastfeeding and co-sleeping, have waned in modern society, potentially contributing to suboptimal outcomes. This volume provides an empirically based argument for optimizing child development by understanding mammalian needs based on research from anthropology, neurobiology, animal science, and human development. Key Features: * Explores evolutionary approaches to human behavior. * Presents research from multiple scientific disciplines. * Offers insights into optimizing child development. * Advocates for new policies and childcare practices. This pioneering work is essential for understanding how to foster healthier human development through a better alignment of our environments with our evolutionary heritage. It's a must-read for professionals and parents seeking to improve mental and physical health outcomes by optimizing early life conditions. Summary: Evolution Early Experience and Human Development (From Research to Practice and Policy) by Oxford University Press Inc, a hardback book detailing human development based on evolutionary and neuroscience research, 506 pages, authored by Darcia Narvaez Ph.D., Jaak Panksepp Ph.D., Allan N. Schore Ph.D., Tracy R. Gleason Ph.D.