A recent article in Developmental Psychology proposes that infants and toddlers in modern hunter-gatherer societies commonly benefit from significant "sensitive care" and individual attention.
Dr. Nikhil Chaudhary, an evolutionary anthropologist at Cambridge University and the study's lead author, highlights that the research uncovered that infants in these societies receive approximately nine hours of focused care and physical contact each day, provided by up to 15 different caregivers.
'It Takes a Village To Raise a Child'
The adage "it takes a village to raise a child" rings true, and recent research with Mbendjele BaYaka hunter-gatherers in the Republic of Congo involved collaboration between Dr. Chaudhary, Dr. Salali, and child psychiatrist Dr. Annie Swanepoel.
Their findings suggest that children may be "evolutionarily primed" to expect high levels of physical contact, care, and personal attention from multiple caregivers.
It highlights the substantial caregiving within hunter-gatherer communities, surpassing parental roles. Children frequently receive support from 10 or more caregivers, and a mother's support addresses more than half of her baby's crying episodes.
This comprehensive support not only benefits mothers but also reduces the risk of neglect and abuse, buffers against family adversity, and enhances maternal well-being.
Moreover, the research highlights the active involvement of older children and adolescents in caring for infants, offering valuable experience and potentially boosting their confidence as caregivers. Participating actively may act as a safeguard, mitigating the anxieties commonly faced by parents who are new to the experience.
As humans lived as hunter-gatherers for a significant portion of their evolutionary history, studying present-day hunter-gatherers provides insights into the caregiving practices to which children may be psychologically adapted. However, Chaudhary advises caution, noting the flexibility of human psychology and the ongoing debate surrounding optimal child-rearing approaches.
Caregiving in Western Societies
Dr. Chaudhary proposes that, for the majority of human evolution, mothers likely received more assistance than contemporary Western societies offer, despite recent UK policy changes emphasizing childcare. He underscores the necessity for additional initiatives to safeguard the well-being of both mothers and children.
In Western societies, childcare is frequently utilized to support parental work rather than providing a genuine respite, in contrast to historical times when parents faced less pressure due to increased support. Dr. Chaudhary highlights the stark contrast between the nuclear family system in the West and the communal living arrangements of hunter-gatherer societies like the Mbendjele.
While acknowledging the importance of UK childcare policy changes, such as extending free childcare to younger children, the researchers express apprehension that these programs exclusively benefit working families, reinforcing the notion of childcare primarily filling parents' free time with work.
Hunter-gatherer groups demonstrated caregiver-to-child ratios surpassing five-to-one, deviating from the diminished adult-to-child ratios in UK nurseries. The researchers caution against reducing adult-to-child ratios, stressing the potential repercussions on emotional and cognitive development.
Despite the abundance of caregivers in Mbendjele communities, the study suggests that children may derive benefits from a stable set of core caregivers within this broader network. Dr. Chaudhary underscores the imperative for collaborative efforts in society, involving policymakers, employers, and healthcare services, to ensure comprehensive support for the well-being of mothers and children.
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