Part 6 of 'What happened to species-typical human nature?'

This is Part 6 of What happened to species-typical human nature?

Part 1: Human Social Origins

2: The Nested Community

3: Seeds of Disorder: Colonization of Childhood

4: The Eroded Nest and Wrecking of Human Nature and Spirituality

5: Where We Are Today

6: Lost Spirituality: Intellect over Spirit, Machines over Life

7: Conclusion: Reaching for the Alternative

Download paper here:

Narvaez, D. (2024). What happened to species-typical human nature? In L. Sundararajan & A. Dueck (Eds.), When the gods have fled: Being human in the age of machine and the market. Palgrave-Macmillan.

Abstract of whole paper:

The clash of civilizations continues between colonizers and Native/First Nation Peoples around the world. Native/First Nation Peoples traditionally are Nature-centric, oriented to gift economies, meeting basic needs through species-normal nestedness. Humanity’s evolved nest includes soothing perinatal experiences, breastfeeding for several years, responsive care relationships, a welcoming community and supportive stable caregivers/mentors, extensive affectionate touch (and no negative touch), self-directed social play, nature immersion and attachment, and routine healing practices. The right brain hemisphere is scheduled to grow more rapidly in early childhood, and nest provision supports its optimization which leads to a flexible, socially engaged, emotionally attuned orientation to the world, a spiritual heartmindedness connected to the rest of Nature.

Settler-colonial childraising practices, now spread around the world, do not follow evolved nest practices, undermining holistic brain development. Such undercare impairs spiritual heartmindedness, leading instead to psyches vulnerable to manipulation, easily triggered into self-protectionism. Mind-brains have been colonized by fear and distracted with a focus on deliberation as humanity’s uniqueness. Knowhow for living responsibly on Earth is dismissed by the intellect, the focus of Westernized schooling. To return to holistic development, the evolved nest must be provided along with healing practices to restore humanity’s full nature.