Dr. Sam Wilkinson

So John Bowlby, he came of age professionally in the early 1900s. And at that time, many of the now outdated theories of psychoanalysis and psychology still held great sway. Among them was this sense that relationships weren't really all that important. And Bowlby, this didn't really make sense to him.

Even among animals, he saw that some of the behaviors, they didn't really have any purpose other than to strengthen relationships. So he pushed back against this very quid pro quo approach to relationships that many of the psychoanalysts had at that time. And as he searched for a kind of a way to understand this, he studied, in fact, he babies of animals and babies of humans.

Even among animals, he saw that some of the behaviors, they didn't really have any purpose other than to strengthen relationships. So he pushed back against this very quid pro quo approach to relationships that many of the psychoanalysts had at that time. And as he searched for a kind of a way to understand this, he studied, in fact, he babies of animals and babies of humans.

Even among animals, he saw that some of the behaviors, they didn't really have any purpose other than to strengthen relationships. So he pushed back against this very quid pro quo approach to relationships that many of the psychoanalysts had at that time. And as he searched for a kind of a way to understand this, he studied, in fact, he babies of animals and babies of humans.

And what he noticed is that human babies are incredibly immature at their birth, really more than any other creature. A baby giraffe, the first thing it experiences upon being born is actually a six foot drop to the ground because female giraffes give birth standing up, actually. But within an hour, that baby giraffe can be up and walking and nursing on its own and standing.

And what he noticed is that human babies are incredibly immature at their birth, really more than any other creature. A baby giraffe, the first thing it experiences upon being born is actually a six foot drop to the ground because female giraffes give birth standing up, actually. But within an hour, that baby giraffe can be up and walking and nursing on its own and standing.

And what he noticed is that human babies are incredibly immature at their birth, really more than any other creature. A baby giraffe, the first thing it experiences upon being born is actually a six foot drop to the ground because female giraffes give birth standing up, actually. But within an hour, that baby giraffe can be up and walking and nursing on its own and standing.

And you can imagine for those of us who are parents, how our family lives would have been different if our babies could walk within an hour of being born. That's hard to fathom. But he noticed that human babies are utterly helpless, and they are so helpless that many scholars who study infant development refer to the first six months or so of life as the, quote, fourth trimester.

And you can imagine for those of us who are parents, how our family lives would have been different if our babies could walk within an hour of being born. That's hard to fathom. But he noticed that human babies are utterly helpless, and they are so helpless that many scholars who study infant development refer to the first six months or so of life as the, quote, fourth trimester.

And you can imagine for those of us who are parents, how our family lives would have been different if our babies could walk within an hour of being born. That's hard to fathom. But he noticed that human babies are utterly helpless, and they are so helpless that many scholars who study infant development refer to the first six months or so of life as the, quote, fourth trimester.

We are essentially born half-baked. And Bowlby hypothesized that pretty much everything a baby can do, which isn't a whole lot, cry, coo, suck, laugh, smile, that sort of thing. In part, these behaviors are intended to draw together the baby with the parents. And this is necessary and evolutionarily adapted because without a strong bond, that baby wouldn't survive.

We are essentially born half-baked. And Bowlby hypothesized that pretty much everything a baby can do, which isn't a whole lot, cry, coo, suck, laugh, smile, that sort of thing. In part, these behaviors are intended to draw together the baby with the parents. And this is necessary and evolutionarily adapted because without a strong bond, that baby wouldn't survive.

We are essentially born half-baked. And Bowlby hypothesized that pretty much everything a baby can do, which isn't a whole lot, cry, coo, suck, laugh, smile, that sort of thing. In part, these behaviors are intended to draw together the baby with the parents. And this is necessary and evolutionarily adapted because without a strong bond, that baby wouldn't survive.

Now, the behaviors of the baby are just one side of the coin. In order for this to work, there has to be a strong reciprocal attachment on the part of the parents. And fortunately, most of the time, mother nature cooperates. And those of us who are parents can think back to the very deep and profound sense of love and affection that we feel upon the birth of our children.

Now, the behaviors of the baby are just one side of the coin. In order for this to work, there has to be a strong reciprocal attachment on the part of the parents. And fortunately, most of the time, mother nature cooperates. And those of us who are parents can think back to the very deep and profound sense of love and affection that we feel upon the birth of our children.

Now, the behaviors of the baby are just one side of the coin. In order for this to work, there has to be a strong reciprocal attachment on the part of the parents. And fortunately, most of the time, mother nature cooperates. And those of us who are parents can think back to the very deep and profound sense of love and affection that we feel upon the birth of our children.

Again, I think this is where the strongest forms of love in the flesh that nature has created. This is where they come about is through these family relationships, these most biologically relevant relationships between parents and their children. And right now, as you probably know, John, there's a.

Again, I think this is where the strongest forms of love in the flesh that nature has created. This is where they come about is through these family relationships, these most biologically relevant relationships between parents and their children. And right now, as you probably know, John, there's a.

Again, I think this is where the strongest forms of love in the flesh that nature has created. This is where they come about is through these family relationships, these most biologically relevant relationships between parents and their children. And right now, as you probably know, John, there's a.

There's a national discussion going on about the value and the worth and so forth of having children. Fertility rates are falling among developed nations pretty much everywhere. As people recognize, look, it's really hard to raise children. But I would also...