2023 Volume 73 Issue 2 Pages 85-98
From a biological perspective, maternal behavior is widely considered instinctive, because death of children who inherit their own genes should be avoid. However, in many species, include humans, maternal behavior exhibits a degree of fragility. This vulnerability can be attributed to "byproduct" of parental investment regulation mechanisms that depend on estimates of reproductive success. Adverse factors affecting reproduction, such as environmental deterioration and social stress, have the capacity to inhibit hormonal functions and suppress the expression of maternal behavior, as hormones during pregnancy and lactation play a pivotal role in shaping maternal behavior. In other words, maternal behavior is modulated based on contextual factors, and when the prospects for successful reproduction appear bleak, the abandonment of child-rearing may ensue. This concept, referred to as "differential allocation of parental investment," brings the notion that maladaptive parenting can happen to anyone under specific conditions, and deeper understanding and empathy for parents who raise their children inappropriately. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge the potential for its inappropriate dissemination due to a lack of understanding, which, in turn, could lead to unjustified prejudice and stigmatization. Consequently, we are exploring strategies for the appropriate utilization of this information within clinical psychological settings.
