What is the biological reason that humans want to have children?

Question

Humans have evolved to desire sex through numerous hormonal chemicals. But what mechanism exists to make humans want to have children? In general, humans desire sex but now that numerous birth control methods exist, sex is no longer necessarily tied to having children. So what biological reason makes humans want to have children, because many could have sex and no children if they so desired. And, it seems to me that such a scenario is in effect. Children per adult is decreasing in nations where the populations can easily afford a lifetime supply of birth control. But why doesn't the rate go down to zero for that group of people? Of course, I'm not advocating this, I'm just wondering why we see these results.

I still don't get it: we have an instinct to have sex, but why an instinct to have children. Now that birth control exists, the two are now separate.

Answer 1

Humans are still animals like all other. And while not as prevelant as other animals, biological instincts still exist. all animals have an inherent instint to mate. it is hard wired into us.

Answer 2

1st birth control doesn't always work. In fact if millions of people are having sex, and the failure rate of the most effective non prescription birth control method is about 3%, that leavs billions of sperms looking for an egg to fertilize, which some do. But to the question i would say there are several reasons, including a societal shunning of "barren" people (i.e. if I don't have kids by a certain age people will think i am either a loser or gay), 2, men want to have boy's to keep tyhe family name going, some people have either an instinct or God given drive to form a family, (some would say survival instinct (strength in numbers to protect against predators such as sabertooth) or God given drive (for some reason the human heart yearns for a family of it's own)

Answer 3

It's genetic. The desire to nurture a child from infancy to adulthood is something that has been selected for over millions of years because it's a "fit" trait in primates like ourselves. That means there are what we could call genes for nurturing. These don't have to be expressed through parenthood, somebody could be a spinster or bachelor school teacher rather than have children. Nevertheless some people have a natural desire to do the most primal form of nurturing and these people choose to become parents. If they can achieve this naturally through sex they do. Otherwise they do it anyway by artificial means. The instinct to get sexual satisfaction is controlled by different genes to the ones that code for nurturing.

Answer 4

Simple biological logic.

Creatures with no desire to procreate, simply do not. They die out.
Creatures with a strong desire to procreate do. The are fruitful and multiply. Occasionally nature throws in a low-breeder for experiment and that ends up successful in certain environments. Non-breeders cannot pass that trait on literally.

There once was a cult/society that believed that sex was was bad and procreation was wrong. They were founded by a woman born on Valentine's day.
Guess how long the group lasted... Yup, you guessed it. They only lasted one generation. There were no new members to pass on their beliefs.

By logical extension, any belief that encourages birth rates out of control and discourages birth control will be the most prolific. They are not the best religion, just the best breeders.

Answer 5

It's an animal instinct we have kept in us.

All animals procreate. If you don't produce offspring, the species could become instinct. For other animals, sex is purely used for reproduction.

Humans, however, are different. We have a brain. We have intelligent thinking. We are able to make conscious decisions on pain, pleasure, likes and dislikes. Sex is used to please our senses.

Children per adult in many areas have to decrease because of a lack of available housing and land. Why don't rates just go down to zero--humans will always be having sex. To some the instinct and desire to reproduce is stronger than in others. There will ALWAYS be families who have kids, just now they are having kids later in life.

Answer 6

In primitive societies the female can stumble on a sparkling mate and yet another cave each and every 3 hundred and sixty 5 days if the tigers are long gone. we won't get the interior maximum loan paid off in 9 months. guy has to enhance a particular use for the wandering male eye and the immoral old lady. secret administration communities have been progressed with a secret vocabulary. some winner circles are constrained and can administration intercourse . There ought to be regulations to keep away from each and every person from doing this. church homes have been invented and mortgages have been mandatory so the secret communities could have countless relaxing till they prefer to go away city. Then all hell breaks loose. the infants could be housed till they might desire to purchase a house with a private loan is all. nicely you clarify it extra effectual.

Answer 7

when a person wants to have children, the instinct is speaking. Without it, the mankind would dessapear. It's not for love of the children why people reproduce, it's because of the instinct that comes in the DNA.

Answer 8

It's all about hormones. Testosterone in the sex hormone, oxytocyn is the love your children hormone.

Answer 9

God gives many people a desire to be with kids. What better way to fullfill this deseire than to have children of your own?

Answer 10

In one scientific word...Hormones.