Talk:Infant attachment

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Clarity in what is or is not inherited[change source]

I sense a general vagueness in this area; I think there are some distinctions needed. As an outline:

  1. There are behaviours which are inherited, neurally programmed and fully working at birth (eg reflexes)
  2. There are behaviours which are inherited, programmed and not operational at birth
    1. because further neural growth is needed (needing "maturation")
    2. because they must be triggered by the stimulus of a "releaser".
    3. because they must be triggered by the release of hormones.
  3. There are behaviours for which only the capacity to learn is inherited
    1. language in humans (between 18 months and four years).
    2. There are more general mental capacities which are open to development by learning. Again, the general capacity in inherited

I don't think this list needs to be in the article, but anyone who writes about early learning needs to be aware that these different things may be going on. Macdonald-ross (talk) 18:57, 15 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]