Taboo and genetics : $b A study of the biological, sociological and psychological foundation of the familyKnight, Melvin M. (Melvin Moses)
Science
Taboo and genetics : $b A study of the biological, sociological and psychological foundation of the family
Knight, Melvin M. (Melvin Moses)
Sex (Biology); Sex (Psychology); Taboo; Women
No psychologist of discernment, in insisting on eugenic standards rather
than a marriage certificate as the best criterion for parenthood would
encourage any tendency to promiscuous mating. The individual suffering
involved in such a system of sexual relationships would be too great to
permit its universal adoption even if it should be found to have no
deleterious social effects. But the very fact that transient mating does
involve so much human agony, especially on the part of the woman, is all
the more reason why it is needless to add artificial burdens to those
already compelled by the very nature of the emotional life.
The study of child psychology, too, would tend to discourage any general
tendency to temporary sexual relationships. Modern research has shown
that nothing is more necessary for the normal development of the child's
emotional life than a happy home environment with the presence of both
father and mother. Only in these surroundings, with the love of both
parents as a part of the childhood experience, can the emotional
reactions of the child be properly conditioned to respond to the social
situations of adult life.
In one respect, at least, society can do a great deal to better the
existing situation, and to solve the struggle between the individual and
group interests. At the same time that it endeavours to set up emotional
responses that shall be conducive to eugenic mating and to a happy love
life, as well as for the welfare of the child, it should also leave a
wide margin of personal liberty for the individuals concerned to work
out a type of sexual relationship which is in harmony with their natural
inclinations. The institution of monogamy is too deeply founded in the
needs of the individual and of the child to suffer from this increase in
freedom and responsibility. Were it so frail a thing as to need the
protection of the church and state as well as public opinion to insure
its survival, it would be so little adapted to the needs of humanity
that it might better disappear.
There are no indications that there would be any wider deviation from
the monogamous relationship were variations frankly recognized that now
take place in secret. By its present attitude, society is not
accomplishing its purpose and preventing all sexual relationships except
those which conform to its institutionalized standards. It is merely
forcing what should be always the most dignified of human relationships
into the shamefulness of concealment and furtiveness. Moreover, because
it visits its wrath on the child born of unions which are not strictly
conventionalized, it prevents the birth of children from mothers who
might be of great eugenic value, but whom fear of social disapproval
keeps from the exercise of their maternal functions but not of their
sexual activities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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