Adoption and GSA
I've been thinking about adoption recently, mainly because I find both the human and genetic [1] aspects interesting. I might post on this at length later, but until then here's an interesting - and somewhat disturbing - link on
"Genetic Sexual Attraction"
Nature:
Experienced between mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, and between more distant relatives, but most common between siblings of opposite sex who bear a close resemblance. It takes the form of an overpowering, almost electrical grip of emotion, associated with an inability to keep away from the other person and an almost primordial sense of having belonged together all their lives. The attraction gives rise to a sense of underlying shame and guilt, together with a feeling of rejection that may prevent effective communication because the emotions are too threatening to share with anyone. This may be compounded by any sexual relationship resulting from the attraction.
Incidence:
Particularly noted in the case of adopted children who are subsequently reunited with the biological parent or sibling of the opposite sex, seemingly because the normal bonding mechanism has been disrupted.
Perhaps chemical conditioning and socialization at an early age are all that prevent us from following the dictates of our
assortative mating urges...a more-than-mildly upsetting thought for many of us...
[1] Meaning both the drama that accompanies the various stages of adoption (giving up the child, taking him/her in, reunion) and the genetic questions (can we establish maternity/paternity, can we understand adoption in terms of Hamiltonian
kin selection in small genetically close tribes, etc.)