What is the effect of Westermarck?
The Westermarck effect is a phenomenon that has been observed in individuals who spend a large amount of time with each other under six years. People who are brought up together, regardless of the relationship, tend to be anesthetic to each other and later in life will not generally develop sexual attraction. The concept of Westermarck has supported a number of studies.
This idea is sometimes referred to as "reverse imprint" and is named for Edvard Westermarck, a Finnish sociologist who worked and wrote at the end of the 18th century. He was particularly interested in marital patterns and incest taboo, and his idea that people who are brought up together do not develop sexual attraction, have grown to Freud's faith, prominent contemporary. Over time, it was clear that Westermarck was confirmed because the evidence strongly indicates that Freud's thoughts are not supported by real evidence.
In addition to the USINUG data on brothers and nurses who are brought together together, scientists on Westermarck Effect also focused on situations,in which individuals are raised together. For example, on Israeli kibbutzim, children are often brought up together in large peers groups, and members of the same peers group rarely develop sexual relationships. This also applies to small children adopted to households with existing children.
On the other hand, siblings who are brought up sometimes develop sexual attraction when they meet later in life, and develop what is called genetic sexual attraction. Westermarck scientists have also found that the six -year limit value is very important; Children who are brought up together after six age do not show the effect of Westermarck, suggesting that this is related to the development of early childhood.
opponents of this theory often point to historical examplesPTU between the ruling classes. However, these marriages are not a good contradiction, because such marriages were usually concluded without consulting those involved and it was common for children of ruling classes to be brought up separately from each other, for various reasons.
In an interesting modern example of Westermarck's effect, scientists studied traditional Chinese families who have ever adopted a young girl with their homes with their sons. They found that girls are often strongly against such marriages when they come at age, and that these marriages are more susceptible to later dissolution, childlessness or adultery.