Contrary to what most people believe, love for ones kin is not intrinsic or innate. Supporting this claim is the fact that infanticide or the termination of a child’s life before 12 months has been observed in many species of animal to include homo sapiens.

In modern day West Africa, children must not be born head first and face upwards. If that is the case then they are either abandoned or given to a local fixer who terminates the child.

Indians take part in female infanticide for economic reasons. In India, the tradition is to pay out a large sum of money when a female is to be married. Multiple female children could equate to poverty so are removed from the population.

The United States ranked eleventh for infants under 1 year killed, and fourth for those killed from 1 through 14 years. The primary reasons appear to be post postpartum depression although many cases involve some degree of mental illness.

Many examples exist in history and present day to support the argument that love is not intrinsic. Humans just as other animals build up a feeling of love with those closest to them. In most societies this equates to family which is cause for the confusion. Societal norms like loving your children unconditionally force people into self deception where they believe their love for children is a basic instinct. This is incorrect. We love those that are close because they are the most likely to care for us at a later date. I short, love and affection are selfish acts.

People best understand ideas through stories rather than facts. To better illustrate my point, I’ll provide a terse example that demonstrates our selfish ways.

Imagine that a stranger is bleeding to death on the side of the road. The hospital is 5 miles away and you are without a phone and must drive the stranger to the hospital yourself. Your vehicle is new and interior immaculate. Estimated cost for repairs caused by the bloody mess is $500. You ignore the costs and provide assistance.

Now imagine a television advertisement asking for donations to Sudanese refugees who have fled the domestic fighting to neighboring countries and are now without family, home, clothes, and shelter. Just a $10 donation would provide several warm meals and vaccinations You ignore the advertisement and continue on about your day.

This story is applicable to just about everyone. Logically it’s better to let the person on the road die and take care of 50 Sudanese refuges whom are on the brink of starvation for the same price but realistically, most people are likely to provide aide to those closer to them even if they are strangers. Geography matters a great deal in our willingness to aide others.

With that in mind, it’s not hard to make the connection that we love our families because of their proximity. Society also plays a part. To make the statement “I do not love my children” is culturally taboo and the leading cause for postpartum depression.

Or maybe that’s all just bullshit. Whatever the case, the title should fetch some more traffic to the blog.

Some reading material

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2005-07-19-fears-of-witchcraft-fuel-infanticide-in-benin
http://www.infanticide.org/history.htm
Infanticide in Prairie Dogs: Lactating Females Kill Offspring of Close Kin Science
http://www.indianchild.com/abortion_infanticide_foeticide_india.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jul/06/japan.schoolsworldwide
http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUST29175620070406
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_foeticide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infanticide#Present_day