Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Overview
This dissertation investigates the neuroeconomic consequences of multi-generational early childhood neglect, with a focus on the neurodevelopmental impairments that lead to narcissistic traits and their broader societal implications. The research integrates neurobiological, psychological, and economic perspectives to argue that physical and emotional neglect, particularly during the critical early years of childhood, have a profound impact on right-brain development, fostering narcissistic tendencies which, in turn, sustain and reinforce exploitative capitalist systems. Special emphasis will be placed on the first three years of life, a period highlighted by researchers such as John Bowlby and Allan Schore for its critical role in brain development and emotional regulation.
The historical evolution of family dynamics, particularly the shifting roles of both mothers and fathers in caregiving, serves as a critical backdrop for understanding how childhood neglect has become systemic in many countries. Since the Enlightenment, societal expectations and economic pressures have reshaped the family unit, often exacerbating early childhood neglect. The dissertation traces this multi-generational neglect and its consequences for both individual psychological development and broader economic systems, ultimately linking these patterns to the threats facing contemporary human civilization.
1.2 Research Aims and Questions
The primary aim of this research is to explore how multi-generational early childhood neglect has contributed to the neurobiological development of narcissistic traits and how these traits have reinforced exploitative capitalist structures.
Specifically, the dissertation seeks to:
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Understand the neurobiological impact of early childhood neglect on right-brain development.
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Investigate the psychological and behavioral traits associated with right-brain maldevelopment, particularly narcissism.
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Explore how these traits influence market dynamics, consumer behavior, and societal structures.
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Analyze the historical shifts in caregiving practices and how societal pressures have contributed to multi-generational patterns of neglect.
Research questions include:
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How does early childhood neglect impact the neurodevelopment of the right-brain, and how does this predispose individuals to narcissistic traits?
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What role do these narcissistic traits play in shaping exploitative market behaviors and driving unsustainable consumerism?
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How have shifts in family dynamics and caregiving practices, driven by societal and economic pressures, contributed to the perpetuation of multi-generational neglect?
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How does the perpetuation of exploitative capitalism, driven by narcissistic behaviors, threaten the long-term survival of human civilization?
1.3 Structure of the Dissertation
This dissertation is organized into six chapters:
Chapter 2: A research review on the neurobiological, psychological, and economic theories related to childhood neglect, right-brain development, and narcissism.
Chapter 3: Exploration of the neurobiological effects of early childhood neglect, with a specific focus on right-brain development and its impact on emotional regulation, empathy, and social bonding.
Chapter 4: Historical analysis of family dynamics, focusing on how societal pressures have shaped maternal and paternal roles in caregiving from the Enlightenment to the present.
Chapter 5: Analysis of how narcissistic traits foster exploitative behaviors in capitalist systems, driving market dynamics that perpetuate unsustainable consumerism, social fragmentation, poor public health outcomes, and environmental destruction.
Chapter 6: Conclusions and implications for future research, with a discussion on the need for reforms in caregiving practices, medical practices and economic systems.