#248 | Shifting Baselines: Consensus Reality, Primal Wounds, & The Evolved Nest w/ Darcia Narvaez

Intro: 8:17 | Book Pre-sale

In this episode, I speak with Darcia Narvaez PhD, Professor of Psychology at Notre Dame University. Professor Narvaez is the author and editor of numerous books, including ‘Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom’ and ‘Indigenous Sustainable Wisdom: First-Nation Know-How for Global Flourishing.’ She also writes regularly for Psychology Today with her ‘Moral Landscapes’ column, which explores her work with parenting, child development, self-development, and morality.

The first time I spoke with Darcia was almost three years ago, back when I was first beginning to do interviews for this podcast. A great deal has changed and happened since then, not only with my work specifically, but in the world at large. In contemplating the roots of the fragmented, disruptive responses the novel coronavirus pandemic has generated, I felt compelled to reconnect with Prof. Narvaez to discuss her insights into this subject. This includes an examination of the contemporary, common child-rearing practices in the West (specifically the United States), and how this informs the ideologies/belief systems people attach themselves to in states of crisis and uncertainty, such as ours. 

After we explore this subject, I ask Darcia to define the characteristics of the Evolved Nest:

“Every animal has a nest for its young that forms part of an extra-genetic inheritance corresponding to the needs and maturational pace of offspring (Gottlieb, 1991; Oyama, Griffiths & Gray, 2001). Humans evolved to have the most helpless newborns and the most intensive caregiving niche. Childrearing practices consistent with the human nest were practiced for over 99% of human genus existence and still are in some indigenous cultures. Intensive caregiving in early life includes nearly constant touch, extensive breastfeeding, and free play with multi-aged peers as well as positive social support for the mother-child dyad and multiple adult caregivers (Hewlett & Lamb, 2005; Hrdy, 2009). All these caregiving practices are correlated with physical and mental health outcomes, but also with social and moral development.” (https://bit.ly/3fTZHTF)

Darcia Narvaez’s prior careers include professional musician, classroom music teacher, business owner, seminarian and middle school Spanish teacher. Her current research explores how early life experience influences societal culture, wellbeing and sociomoral character in children and adults. She integrates neurobiological, clinical, developmental and education sciences in her theories and research about human nature and human development. She publishes extensively on moral development, parenting and education.

Episode Notes:

- Learn more about Darcia and her work: https://darcianarvaez.com

- Learn more about the Evolved Nest: https://evolvednest.org

- Read Darcia’s column ‘Moral Landscapes’ at Psychology Today: https://bit.ly/2y7m8na

- The song featured in this episode is “Talanzele” by DJ N***a Fox from the album Cartas na Manga.