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