Evolutionary Environments of Human Birth and Infancy: Insights to Apply to Contemporary Life

Wenda R. Trevathan
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
New Mexico State University

James J. McKenna
Department of Anthropology
Pomona College

Citation: Trevathan, Wenda R. and James J. McKenna (1994). "Evolutionary Environments of Human Birth and Infancy: Insights to Apply to Contemporary Life." Children's Environments 11 (2): 13-36. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

This paper reviews the evolutionary history of human birth and infancy, using as data the cross-species, cross-cultural, and fossil records. We argue that studies of other cultures other species, and other, more ancient times are necessary for fully understanding social, psychological, and physiological processes underlying birth and infant development. Indeed, knowledge of the differences in the ancient and recent environments of birth and infancy is necessary for understanding and solving some of the problems and dissatisfactions with the ways in which childbirth and infancy are experienced in modern life. The most dramatic differences to emerge in this review are in the social environments of childbirth and the sleeping environments of infants.

Keywords: childbirth, infants, infant sleep, evolution, cross-cultural, sleep patterns, primates