Mark's earlier thread about where your morals come from got me thinking about all the things people do or believe.

When I was 18 and first registered to vote, I registered Republican. Why? My parents were, and my Grandmother was big into politics and was a major republican. So, I just kinda went with the flow.

However, I also think some behaviors can be ingrained. Perfect example is Mayhem, the chocolate lab in my avatar. Mayhem will run and fetch a ball, then run back, sit in front of you, and drop it at your feet without any command. And he has done that pretty much since the day I got him at 3 months old. I didn't train him to do it, he just does it. Well, as a purebred dog, I have his birth certificate and lineage going back 5 generations. His father was a champion retriever trials dog, as was his grandfather, great grandfather, and so on and so forth. There were at least 8 champion trial dogs in his lineage, and honestly, I think that's why he knows what to do without being told.

How much behavior do you think is naturally engrained and handed down to you?

None. Environment takes the front seat on this one.

Edit: I change my answer to "very little", just thought of an example.

It all depends on the individual's strength of mind. If all you've ever known was one thing then you dont have other options. But a strong minded person can decide not to follow along and pick a different path.

agree with yzf.

I'm confident it's both: there are genetic pre-dispositions toward certain personality types, and your upbringing shapes you from there

yeah but it isnt always that simple...

for example, someone who was abused as a child can turn around and abuse their children, or they could learn from their past and break the cycle, so to speak. While both are to an extent a result of their upbringing, the outcome is very different

I'm confident it's both: there are genetic pre-dispositions toward certain personality types, and your upbringing shapes you from there

I certainly think that there are some people who are born with a particular disposition that their external environment has little to no effect on. For example, I know people who have always had outrageous, ridiculous tempers for no reason at all. I am talking about the kind of guy that wants to fight people all the time. I know their parents, have seen them grow up since we were kids, and there is really no reason for them to be like that. However, it just seems to be that is something beyond their control, it's just who they are.

On the other hand, I do think that the majority of people are a result of their surroundings. I definitely know that I am. I still remember life lessons that were taught by my father, I and I know that my general set of values are a result of my parents influence, and the influence of other authority figures. My mother is a Democrat, and my father would be considered more of a Independent. However, I declared myself a Republican when I was 18, and more recently have decided to move to the Libertarian party. There is no doubt that my parents had an influence on my beliefs, as I tend to take bits and pieces from both sides. However, above all I believe in peoples right to live freely, as long as their actions do not detract from the rights of others.

I went to church every Sunday while growing up, and was even baptised and took communion as a Presbyterian. I also went to Catholic church often, as my fathers side of the family was devout Catholic. I never cared for the Catholic church, as it seemed highly regimented and highly structured to me. There was no happiness, but more remorse and people asking for forgiveness on a regular basis.

I liked the Presbyterian church much more, because what our Pastor talked about made a lot more sense. There was no Latin involved, there was no structure or rituals, it was laid back and full of good stories.

However, I still don't buy into the bible or the idea of creation and one singular God. I do not completely rule it out as an impossibility, it just seems highly improbable to me. I was raised around good Christian people, and have nothing against them whatsoever. I just do not enjoy the whole "I am right and you are wrong" mentality. Faith is just fine, but you have to understand that there are a lot of other people who do not buy into it. It's not because they are stupid, ignorant, or uniformed, they just think a certain way and prefer to continue on in search of a better answer.

of course it can be, and it's easier if you look at animals.. clearly there are some types of behavior that can be shaped via selective breeding and the like, as you mentioned
we use the word "instinct" all of the time, which implies that certain behaviors are innate

as far as the interaction between the two, that's the classic question of psychology, and I don't know. I do think many of the true, core aspects of personality are inherited, assuming things don't go horribly wrong during upbringing. it seems in a lot of cases, like yzf said, you inherit a predisposition or potential for something and environment takes it from there

Your first problem is that you're born with a natural disposition that is in rebellion towards God. You inherit this from your parents. If you did not have this disposition your environment would have no effect upon you. You would be able to always do the right thing. This is the logic from God's word and found in the description of the fall and the writings of Paul in his letter to the Romans.

agree with yzf.


+1