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Tribal society in a modern world: Social adversity in childhood |
It is apparent in progressive social and medical research, that as humans, we can only reach our highest functional potential when supported both physically and emotionally, and that a consistent source of unconditional love and moral support from a respected adult can offset the health risks of children facing social adversity.
Childhood growth patterns for example demonstrate the need for cellular nutrition as well as psychological nourishment, illustrated by the disturbed growth hormone production in children who are emotionally deprived. Similar studies in animals support the promotive growth effect of care and kindness, as well as enlightening us to the preventative and reversal effects of such supportive attention on disease.
Gentle handling was all that was required to significantly lessen the degree of arteriosclerosis in rabbits fed an arthrogenic diet, who had similar serum cholesterol levels to rabbits treated in the standard manner.
Adult human studies on the protective effects of supportive networks in any state of ill-health from mental illness to breast cancer, further highlights that social supports form an effective buffer to stress and disease, and are essential for our health and well-being. This is especially relevant in childhood, as we search for our definition of self amongst the multiple and variable messages of appropriate behaviour in our modern world. The importance of acceptance by our peers is not restricted to adolescence either, as there remains an unconscious human need to be accepted by “the tribe”.
If we look back to our humble human beginnings we see our physical and mental evolution occurred in the nurturing environments of tribal society, where our physiological and psychological needs were met. Our animal ancestors still cluster in groups of extended families, understanding the inherent protective advantage of large numbers for survival, as well as demonstrating the supportive nature of shared child-care and food gathering amongst many family members.
Here, we had defined congruent ideals of law and order, supported by all members of the community, on which we could base our conduct, and we learnt to deal with a variety of personalities and social relationships from an early age, making us more personable and adaptable to change. We would learn respect for our elders who would share their knowledge as adult mentors. This has been found to significantly influence the future prosperity and health of the individual, as seen with the resilient children of the Garden Island study. If our parents became sick, absent or even died, extended family ties would continue our up-bringing, and provide the concrete structural support that the young mind clearly needs to grow and thrive, especially with the demands of our modern lifestyle.
This scenario may still occur in the Western world, but with its focus on individual consumerism and the nuclear family, our society offers very little structured support. From the first-time mother living miles from her family, or the elderly man caring for his dementing wife at home, support services are often poor and lacking, and there is very little encouragement to seek out this elder wisdom from a young age. Children of our developed world often feel isolated, confined, believing they have to face adversity alone. The emphasis on success and rationality often leaves the child suffering emotional turmoil out of the picture, unable to express their views in a supportive environment, leading to certain distress and commonly violent action.
Emphasis on family and community still continues in the third world, where chronic health and degenerative diseases are uncommon, but where sanitation and malnutrition remain responsible for much death and suffering. We have much to learn from each other, and particularly when a clash of cultures occurs, like that of indigenous Australians.
Here the tribal society, trying to function in the face of dispossession and forced integration into existing western paradigms, suffers the fate of two evils. The loss of the protective environment and tribal earth connection, which gives so many their sense of self, and the exposure of their hunter-gatherer survival genotype to the culturally advocated appropriation of excess and comfort.
It is hardly surprising that so many of these children suffer from poor self esteem, and engage in harmful escapist or rebellious behaviour. Much can be said for the support of their tribal community, but with assimilation this has become dysfunctional and the cycle perpetuates. Without being able to draw from their own support structures, parents can hardly offer much support and comfort to their offspring, and existing peer pressure advocates self esteem in often harmful pursuits.
With the nuclear family structure clearly disintegrating under the pressures of modern day demands, is it possible that a reclaiming of our traditional tribal roots, with the way being led by our indigenous groups, could offer the protective barrier we humans need to gestate our ideas, support our feelings and promote our wellbeing?
Jacqueline Boustany practices in Kyogle and at the Aboriginal Medical Centre in Casino.
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