010 | Goldenrod City | Text

[usedlaserbeam]

When posed the question, "which contributes more to personality - nature or nurture?", a psychologist once replied, "which contributes more to the area of a rectangle - its length or its width?" The simplistic answer, therefore, is that neither one contributes more to a creature's personality; rather, that it's some interdependent combination of

Comments

[usedmapquest]

I believe that environment is a large factor in a person's upbringing, especially in situations to the person's detriment, by which I mean that negative events in a person's upbringing weigh heavily on their overall nature, more so than I believe the nature holds up against it.

However I have no idea how that applies to Pokémon.

[usedlaserbeam]

But not so strongly in situations to the person's benefit? I think I agree with you - punishment generally seems to be a stronger, faster method of shaping a person's behavior than reward.

And perhaps it would follow, then, that Pokemon raised to fear their trainer will show dramatically different personalities than those raised to love the one commanding them.

[usedmapquest]

Unfortunately, although irrelevantly to this discussion, I have not been in a situation to observe kindness and nurturing in childrearing, and cannot speak as to their effects. However, despite the 'strength' of a harsh upbringing and the effects thereof, I do not believe it to entirely overwrite one's base personality, kindness… and suchlike! While the personality would be different, I do not believe that one raised in a cruel manner then becomes cruel!

[usedlaserbeam]

...I beg your pardon - you've NEVER observed kindness and nurturing in childrearing?

[usedmapquest]

I grew up in a group orphanage until I joined the military academy at 14. While they were by no means cruel, it was not that sort of environment. As I said, irrelevant to the discussion at hand.

[usedlaserbeam]

Ah, I see. Forgive me, I was more taken by the totality of the statement than anything else.

And for what it's worth, I agree with you. A cruel upbringing might make you more susceptible to cruel actions, simply by virtue of the fact that humans tend to model the behavior they see. But I don't think it's an eventuality by any means.

[usedmapquest]

I can say for a fact that it is not.

[usedlaserbeam]

At the risk of veering off on a slight tangent once again, may I ask your occupation here in Johto? As a trainer or a breeder, that is.

[usedmapquest]

I suppose I would be considered a trainer, although I have little interest in either.

[usedlaserbeam]

I see. That would've been my next question: through what methods do you raise your Pokemon? But if you have no interest in that sort of thing, the point is somewhat moot.

[usedmapquest]

I spend an hour or so each day training my duck against the wild creatures around the town. It has been proven that they are the best protection in this world… and I would rather be prepared than not. However, to use them in a competitive sense seems odd to me.

[usedlaserbeam]

That's a sensible course of action. My interests tend to lie more in the breeding aspect - hence the philosophical musings.

[usedmapquest]

It's really just animal husbandry, isn't it?

[usedlaserbeam]

Essentially. But is animal husbandry ethical when the animals in question may very well be sentient themselves?

[usedmapquest]

Then it would be prostitution. ( that may have been a very very dry joke. )

[usedlaserbeam]

Which solves admirably the problem of animal husbandry, if not the one of the ethics.