interesting topicbassetgirlSeptember 3 2005, 07:04:21 UTC
Do you think we are born with an identity?
Are you asking me as a (semi-trained) psychologist, or as a mother?
As a mum, I can tell you with 150% certainty that you are born with your own personality, which is apparent even BEFORE you were born. My son has literally been into music since before he was born; while still in my tummy he'd kick me whenever I played loud music with a strong bass line, and his fascination with music has existed all through babyhood, toddlerhood and childhood. Thus he is in music lessons, to encourage an interest he always had, whereas that would be pointless for Inga because she never showed that kind of passion for it. It's a VERY long story but each of them had their own personality from the very start.
As a psychologist, I can say you are looking at the Nature versus Nurture debate. You can say a child grew up to be aggressive because he was raised by rough parents, or wimpy because he was coddled; that goes back to the Nurture side. Some might argue Ulf's ability in music is because he's had 2 years of lessons. However, the Nature side is that abilities AND PERSONALITY TRAITS are innate, and all the Nurture side does is help what is already there; ie, Ulf would grow up to be a talented musician anyway even if we never sent him to lessons. And regardless of the way we raised him, he would still be funny, inquisitive and adventurous, while Inga would still be quiet, imaginative and contemplative.
Now, I'm sure you can see that if we raised Ulf by beating the crap out of him and never encouraging his abilities or interests, he would grow up to be quite a different person; this is where the Nurture debate tends to win, but as a mum I can tell you my son was born the way he was and there wasn't anything I could do to change his basic personality as a baby. So it is a combination of the two; you have basic genetic properties that you can't change, such as your intellect, your height, and even your personality traits but your experiences in life can help or hinder this potential. I could never turn Ulf into a quiet and shy little fella, but I COULD (through bad parenting) turn him into an angry and mean fella. I could never turn Inga into an angry and mean lady, but I COULD turn her into a sad, lonely and depressed lady. If you see what I mean (it might make more sense if you knew my kids better, but basically they are as different as chalk and cheese).
When someone loses their memory, are they then given a blank slate from which to build a new self?
Not if you subscribe to the "genetics" point of view. Studies with amnesiacs have found that many of them retain the same personality triats they had before.
Are you asking me as a (semi-trained) psychologist, or as a mother?
As a mum, I can tell you with 150% certainty that you are born with your own personality, which is apparent even BEFORE you were born. My son has literally been into music since before he was born; while still in my tummy he'd kick me whenever I played loud music with a strong bass line, and his fascination with music has existed all through babyhood, toddlerhood and childhood. Thus he is in music lessons, to encourage an interest he always had, whereas that would be pointless for Inga because she never showed that kind of passion for it. It's a VERY long story but each of them had their own personality from the very start.
As a psychologist, I can say you are looking at the Nature versus Nurture debate. You can say a child grew up to be aggressive because he was raised by rough parents, or wimpy because he was coddled; that goes back to the Nurture side. Some might argue Ulf's ability in music is because he's had 2 years of lessons. However, the Nature side is that abilities AND PERSONALITY TRAITS are innate, and all the Nurture side does is help what is already there; ie, Ulf would grow up to be a talented musician anyway even if we never sent him to lessons. And regardless of the way we raised him, he would still be funny, inquisitive and adventurous, while Inga would still be quiet, imaginative and contemplative.
Now, I'm sure you can see that if we raised Ulf by beating the crap out of him and never encouraging his abilities or interests, he would grow up to be quite a different person; this is where the Nurture debate tends to win, but as a mum I can tell you my son was born the way he was and there wasn't anything I could do to change his basic personality as a baby. So it is a combination of the two; you have basic genetic properties that you can't change, such as your intellect, your height, and even your personality traits but your experiences in life can help or hinder this potential. I could never turn Ulf into a quiet and shy little fella, but I COULD (through bad parenting) turn him into an angry and mean fella. I could never turn Inga into an angry and mean lady, but I COULD turn her into a sad, lonely and depressed lady. If you see what I mean (it might make more sense if you knew my kids better, but basically they are as different as chalk and cheese).
When someone loses their memory, are they then given a blank slate from which to build a new self?
Not if you subscribe to the "genetics" point of view. Studies with amnesiacs have found that many of them retain the same personality triats they had before.
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