From moment to moment, the chromosome is more consequential than any of its constituent genes.

Secure in her habitat, with partner and children, a mother may be unduly influenced by what she thinks happened to her during her developmental years, such that her partner is cast in the role of avatar: working from home offsets this tendency. Marriage reduces the likelihood of asking oneself: “Why am I behaving in this way, in this place, at this time?” The boundary between the first person personal pronoun and the outside world can become blurred, so that ‘I am warm.’ becomes ‘It is warm.’

Loss of confidence due to belated realisation of partnership inequity contributes to depression.

Recourse to ‘the selfish gene’ can be a defensive escape into the future, for example from verbalisations in the present intended for the ears of the speaker rather than for anyone else’s ears.