Neuroscience and family policy: What becomes of the parent?. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Macvarish, Jan; Lee, Ellie; Lowe, Pam
• Is Part Of: Critical social policy. Volume 35:Number 2(2015:May)
• Page Start: 248
• Page End: 269
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: early intervention -- family policy -- neuroscience -- parenting -- therapy culture; Welfare economics -- Periodicals; Socialism -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Social policy -- 1979- -- Periodicals; 361.94105
• DOI: 10.1177/0261018315574019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-0183

Abstract

This article discusses the findings of a study tracing the incorporation of claims about infant brain development into English family policy as part of the longer term development of a 'parent training', early intervention agenda. The main focus is on the ways in which the deployment of neuroscientific discourse in family policy creates the basis for a new governmental oversight of parents. We argue that advocacy of 'early intervention', in particular that which deploys the authority of 'the neuroscience', places parents at the centre of the policy stage but simultaneously demotes and marginalises them. So we ask, what becomes of the parent when politically and culturally, the child is spoken of as infinitely and permanently neurologically vulnerable to parental influence? In particular, the policy focus on parental emotions and their impact on infant brain development indicates that this represents a biologisation of 'therapeutic' governance.