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This makes sense. To me this shows we're a well adapted species capable of filling the shoes of another when need be. This fact can't be more evident by the fac

This makes sense. To me this shows we're a well adapted species capable of filling the shoes of another when need be. This fact can't be more evident by the fact when my partner does night shifts she makes sure everything is ready to go as I am hopeless at cooking. I step up to the plate and adapt to the situation I wouldn't usually be in charge of handling. I used to always think it was only mothers who could recognise the cries of their child, but it does make sense if you spend enough time that you develop a maternal instinct. We are firm believers we're free to live our lives how we choose, but can't ignore the fact we're programmed from the beginning to be a certain way already.

kevingadd 14y ago
Nitpick but: 'Maternal' instinct -> motherly instinct Isn't the linked article describing this as a behavior that is common to parents of either gender? We merely assume that it is a maternal instinct. "The factor that best predicted which parents were best at identifying their child’s cries was the amount of time the parent spent with their babies, regardless of if they were the mother or father." This does not describe a maternal instinct that happens to be approximated by fathers, to me. It describes a parental instinct that is not gender-related.
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  We merely assume that it is a maternal instinct I've noticed that our society seems to overrate the whole category, perhaps out of deference to the women who bear the brunt of having children, perhaps to help reassure young women considering children.
  - XorNot 14y ago
    Or to excuse absentee fathers, and the striking disparities in unpaid work between the sexes, globally?
ars 14y ago
You mean paternal instinct? Or do you imply that recognizing a cry is a "mother" thing, even if a father does it?
- DigitalSea 14y ago
  I meant paternal instinct, I wrote the comment whilst on the train and now can't edit it. But definitely not saying that crying is purely a mother thing.

kevingadd 14y ago

Nitpick but: 'Maternal' instinct -> motherly instinct Isn't the linked article describing this as a behavior that is common to parents of either gender? We merely assume that it is a maternal instinct. "The factor that best predicted which parents were best at identifying their child’s cries was the amount of time the parent spent with their babies, regardless of if they were the mother or father." This does not describe a maternal instinct that happens to be approximated by fathers, to me. It describes a parental instinct that is not gender-related.

sliverstorm 14y ago
We merely assume that it is a maternal instinct I've noticed that our society seems to overrate the whole category, perhaps out of deference to the women who bear the brunt of having children, perhaps to help reassure young women considering children.
- XorNot 14y ago
  Or to excuse absentee fathers, and the striking disparities in unpaid work between the sexes, globally?

ars 14y ago

You mean paternal instinct? Or do you imply that recognizing a cry is a "mother" thing, even if a father does it?

DigitalSea 14y ago
I meant paternal instinct, I wrote the comment whilst on the train and now can't edit it. But definitely not saying that crying is purely a mother thing.