2006年VOA标准英语- Anthropologist: Mother-Infant Love the Ke

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
18 January 2006
 
  
  
Scientists who study human development have always faced a dilemma¹.  The need to procreate and protect our genetic³ offspring can be overridden⁴ in humans who sometimes act against their biological interest.  Walter Goldschmidt's new book The Bridge to Humanity tries to answer the question of how humans overcame what is called the "selfish gene²."

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Biologists know that creatures sometimes sacrifice themselves in the interest of their offspring.  Anthropologist⁵ Walter Goldschmidt says that in the animal world, altruistic⁶ behavior seldom goes any further. 

"Living matter is designed by some strange circumstance to want to preserve itself," he said.  "And that means it may make sacrificial acts for its own offspring to have their continuity because their continuity is more important than the continuity of the person itself."

But humans can override⁷ the biological drive to promote their genetic heritage, a drive some biologists call the "selfish gene."   People can devote themselves to pursuits with no apparent genetic payoff, from religious altruism⁸ to the simple pursuit of pleasure.

Mr. Goldschmidt, 92, is an emeritus⁹ professor of anthropology¹⁰ and psychiatry¹¹ at UCLA.  He says scientists have shed light on evolution, but have never explained how humans can rise above their biology.

"Humans, who are a product of evolution, the enigma¹² is, how did we escape this domination?" he asked.

He says nature rewards behavior that promotes the well-being¹³ of a species.  Sexual relations, for example, are pleasurable, and animals do not need to be coaxed¹⁴ into procreating. 

In the same way, he says a mother gets gratification from nursing her children.   Children also need the attention of a mother.  He says with humans and other mammals, physical and psychological sustenance¹⁵ are essential for the development of the offspring.

"Now these things are not just whimsical wants.  They're universal, not only wants, but needs," he explained.

The anthropologist says a clue to the human riddle¹⁶ is seen in the nurturing¹⁷ love of a mother, which is important for all mammals.  A mother cat licks its kittens, and scientists know this promotes their neurological development.  Rhesus monkeys raised without mothers are unable to develop into healthy adults.

Professor Goldschmidt believes that nurturing by mothers, which is more prolonged in humans than in other species, allows our social development.  Many psychologists would agree.  But he takes the argument further, saying the bond between mother and infant sparked a transformation¹⁸, promoting the social relations that allowed societies to emerge.  He says the emergence¹⁹ of culture began with our ancient predecessor²⁰, homo habilis, an early form of man that made crude tools.

"And I argue that over the whole period from when the genus first began, with homo habilis, there was a constant growth of the brain.  It enabled it to think logically," he noted²¹.

The author believes that logical thought developed in two directions.  One was through language, and the other was through tool making.  He says both skills are the result of the same mental abilities, and they emerged in the context of ancient communities.  He says both, in turn, stimulated²² our development.

He says the process is repeated in families, as a child interacts with, and learns from, its parents.  Through thousands of generations, Professor Goldschmidt says, this has led to flexible human cultures and the dominance of our species, homo sapiens.

"The essence of humanity is the flexibility²³ of behavior that we are capable of," he said.  "That is to say, if it's a cold climate, we make igloos, and if it's a hot climate, we make grass huts."

Other species once achieved elementary levels of culture.  But they were apparently²⁴ less adaptable²⁵ and have since died off, their demise²⁶ possibly hastened by our ancestors.  Our ancient cousins include Neanderthals and the pygmies who were recently discovered through fossil remains²⁷ on the Indonesian island of Flores. 

But Walter Goldschmidt says evolution is a tale of cooperation as much as a tale of competition.  In his book The Bridge to Humanity, he says the role of the nurturing mother is a crucial missing link to understanding our human development.

1 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

2 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

3 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

4 overridden   

越控( override的过去分词 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要

参考例句：

• The chairman's veto was overridden by the committee. 主席的否决被委员会推翻了。
• Property '{0}' is not declarable, and cannot be overridden. 属性“{0}”是不可声明的，不能被重写。

5 anthropologist   

n.人类学家，人类学者

参考例句：

• The lecturer is an anthropologist.这位讲师是人类学家。
• The anthropologist unearthed the skull of an ancient human at the site.人类学家在这个遗址挖掘出那块古人类的颅骨。

6 altruistic   

adj.无私的，为他人着想的

参考例句：

• It is superficial to be altruistic without feeling compassion.无慈悲之心却说利他，是为表面。
• Altruistic spirit should be cultivated by us vigorously.利他的精神是我们应该努力培养的。

7 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

8 altruism   

n.利他主义，不自私

参考例句：

• An important feature of moral behaviour is altruism.道德行为一个重要特点就是利他主义。
• Altruism is crucial for social cohesion.利他主义对社会的凝聚是至关重要的。

9 emeritus   

adj.名誉退休的

参考例句：

• "Perhaps I can introduce Mr.Lake Kirby,an emeritus professor from Washington University?"请允许我介绍华盛顿大学名誉教授莱克柯尔比先生。
• He will continue as chairman emeritus.他将会继续担任荣誉主席。

10 anthropology   

n.人类学

参考例句：

• I believe he has started reading up anthropology.我相信他已开始深入研究人类学。
• Social anthropology is centrally concerned with the diversity of culture.社会人类学主要关于文化多样性。

11 psychiatry   

n.精神病学，精神病疗法

参考例句：

• The study appeared in the Amercian science Journal of Psychiatry.这个研究发表在美国精神病学的杂志上。
• A physician is someone who specializes in psychiatry.精神病专家是专门从事精神病治疗的人。

12 enigma   

n.谜，谜一样的人或事

参考例句：

• I've known him for many years,but he remains something of an enigma to me.我与他相识多年，他仍然难以捉摸。
• Even after all the testimonies,the murder remained a enigma.即使听完了所有的证词，这件谋杀案仍然是一个谜。

13 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

14 coaxed   

v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱

参考例句：

• She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。
• I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

15 sustenance   

n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。

16 riddle   

n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜

参考例句：

• The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
• Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。

17 nurturing   

养育( nurture的现在分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长

参考例句：

• These delicate plants need careful nurturing. 这些幼嫩的植物需要精心培育。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants. 这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

18 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

19 emergence   

n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体

参考例句：

• The last decade saw the emergence of a dynamic economy.最近10年见证了经济增长的姿态。
• Language emerges and develops with the emergence and development of society.语言是随着社会的产生而产生，随着社会的发展而发展的。

20 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

21 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

22 stimulated   

a.刺激的

参考例句：

• The exhibition has stimulated interest in her work. 展览增进了人们对她作品的兴趣。
• The award has stimulated her into working still harder. 奖金促使她更加努力地工作。

23 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

24 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

25 adaptable   

adj.能适应的，适应性强的，可改编的

参考例句：

• He is an adaptable man and will soon learn the new work.他是个适应性很强的人，很快就将学会这种工作。
• The soil is adaptable to the growth of peanuts.这土壤适宜于花生的生长。

26 demise   

n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让

参考例句：

• He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标，但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
• The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。

27 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。