Girard addresses this in the chapter in 'Things Hidden' on "Hominization", ie how we transitioned from just another ape into humans. The time we spent as helple

Girard addresses this in the chapter in 'Things Hidden' on "Hominization", ie how we transitioned from just another ape into humans. The time we spent as helpless infants increased as we evolved, and so the requirement to closely imitate our mother, family, society, became essential to survival.