Baby Wars

by Baker, Robin; Oram, Elizabeth

• ISBN13: 9780060957971
• ISBN10: 0060957972
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-28
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

Conflict occurs in even the happiest of households, and in this intelligent, persuasively argued study, Dr. Robin Baker and Elizabeth Oram reveal the inexorable, evolutionary origins of behaviors that can lead to family strife. With a series of instantly recognizable scenarios, they demonstrate how infidelity, postnatal depression, sibling rivalry, and other sources of familial discord can be understood by identifying their genetic roots. Highly provocative and thoroughly compelling, Baby Wars sheds light on the biological "conflicts of interest" that lead to discord in every family with children, and shows how these conflicts are not only normal but inevitable.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	xi
1 Highs and Lows
Real Soap	1	(4)
2 Getting Started
Conception Campaigns	5	(22)
Barren Times	27	(9)
Success?	36	(16)
3 Pregnancy, Labour and Serenity
Sex during Pregnancy	52	(13)
Pregnancy Sickness	65	(10)
Labour	75	(10)
4 Baby Wars
Breast-feeding	85	(20)
Sleepless Nights	105	(6)
Post-natal Depression	111	(8)
5 Families and Dynasties
All's Fair...	119	(15)
Quality or Quantity?	134	(9)
A Single Mistake	143	(6)
6 Family Strife
Sibling Rivalry	149	(7)
Parental Favouritism	156	(10)
Incest	166	(20)
Child Abuse	186	(19)
Lone Parenthood	205	(12)
7 The Road to Grandparenthood
Preparing the Ground	217	(20)
Rebellion, Exploration and Fledging	237	(9)
Mate Selection	246	(11)
8 Grandparenthood
Extended Help	257	(9)
Beyond Reproduction?	266	(7)
The Family Helper	273	(10)
9 The End
Final Commitment	283	(10)
Further Reading	293