NCJ Number
49651
Date Published
1978
Length
37 pages
Annotation
A PSYCHIATRIST TESTIFIES ON PRENATAL EXPERIENCES RESEARCH, THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IN UNBORN CHILDREN, AND THE EFFECTS OF FEELINGS OF BEING UNWANTED IN THE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS OF SMALL CHILDREN.
Abstract
THE UNBORN CHILD AND THE BORN CHILD YOUNGER THAN 2 YEARS OLD HAVE HUMAN FEELINGS AND ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE WANTED OR UNWANTED. IT IS MAINTAINED THAT THESE FEELINGS ARE SIGNIFICANT IN LATER VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. THE HUMAN EMBRYO AT A VERY EARLY STAGE BEGINS TO DEVELOP AND HAS THE CAPACITY TO MONITOR SOUNDS AND SIGHTS AND RESPOND TO A VARIETY OF STIMULI. AT 28 WEEKS, EMBRYO BRAIN LIFE BEGINS AND THE UNBORN CHILD HAS THE CAPACITY WITHIN ITS CEREBRAL CORTEX TO BEGIN DEVELOPING CONSCIOUSNESS AND SELF-AWARENESS. IT IS LOGICAL TO CONCLUDE THAT MEMORIES RETAINED BY THE BRAIN IN THE FETUS CAN EXERT LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON THE EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THE PAIN AND FEAR PRODUCED BY THE BIRTH EXPERIENCE ARE DESCRIBED IN RELATION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD FEELINGS, AND THE PREGNANT MOTHERS' USE OF MEDICATION IS CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO EFFECTS ON THE CHILD. ABORTION AND FAMILY-SIZE ARE DISCUSSED WITH REGARD TO FEELINGS OF BEING UNWANTED AMONG CHILDREN. THE VALIDITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD RECOLLECTIONS INDUCED THROUGH HYPNOSIS IS ARGUED. (DAG)