Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of figures and tables
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Part I Getting to grips with the thought styles
- Part II Fixing real people
- Appendix A: Signs and codes
- Appendix B: The amygdala: the brain’s almond
- Appendix C: Statistical primer
- Appendix D: The definition of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Appendix E: Critique of Cunha et al, 2010
- References
- Index
five - The cat is out of the bag: from early intervention to child protection
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 April 2022
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of figures and tables
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Part I Getting to grips with the thought styles
- Part II Fixing real people
- Appendix A: Signs and codes
- Appendix B: The amygdala: the brain’s almond
- Appendix C: Statistical primer
- Appendix D: The definition of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Appendix E: Critique of Cunha et al, 2010
- References
- Index
Summary
In the last chapter, we argued that there is a consensus across the left and right of the political spectrum that ‘early intervention’ is imperative to safeguard children's health and development. In this context, the neuroscientific arguments, however transformed and traduced, may be seen as part of a progressive, ethical project to make the world a better place. The very same arguments, however, can be marshalled in support of the more coercive activities of the State (Featherstone et al, 2014b). For instance, alongside the attention to primary prevention, the UK has a policy allowing the permanent removal and placement for adoption of children without parental consent, pejoratively dubbed by its critics ‘forced adoption’. Early intervention and nonconsensual adoption may seem polar ends of a spectrum of State intervention in family life, but they are often closely related in terms of their legitimating narratives.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron, on 11 January 2016 in a speech on ‘life chances’, exemplifies the prevailing policy thought style:
Thanks to the advent of functional MRI scanners, neuroscientists and biologists say they have learnt more about how the brain works in the last 10 years than in the rest of human history. And one critical finding is that the vast majority of the synapses … develop in the first 2 years. Destinies can be altered for good or ill in this window of opportunity … we know the severe developmental damage that can be done … when babies are emotionally neglected, abused or if they witness domestic violence. As Dr Jack Shonkoff's research at Harvard University has shown, children who suffer what he calls ‘toxic stress’ in those early years are potentially set up for a life of struggle, risky behaviour, poor social outcomes, all driven by abnormally high levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
And: ‘We also know – it's common sense – how a safe, stimulating, loving family environment can make such a positive difference. … So mums and dads literally build babies’ brains. We serve, they respond.’
The tennis trope is an interesting one: we note in passing that it owes its provenance to the proselytising work of Shonkoff alluded to in the first extract.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Blinded by ScienceThe Social Implications of Epigenetics and Neuroscience, pp. 111 - 128Publisher: Bristol University PressPrint publication year: 2017