My OperaMost behavior theorists believe behavior is hereditary
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 3:57:48 PM
If we were to follow this theory, which I find is very odd hat many psychologists would actually believe this, but to me, they are basically saying that our behavior is inherited. So, we get our behavior from our parents who got their behavior from their parents and so on and so on. That’s like finding out that your father was a rapist and murderer, and now his behavior is being passed down to you. Then, you go out and commit the same type of crimes and of course (this really happens) your lawyer argues that you inherited violent behavior. I saw an episode of Law & Order SVU about eight years ago titled inherited where a young man was committing assaults against women just like his father had and it was argued that he’d inherited that behavior from his father. I know that is just fiction, but it seems like a scapegoat that will constantly be used if people buy into it. I myself come from a broken home, meaning my parents split up when I was young. My mother is a lesbian, my father cheated on her and his current girlfriend a number of times and I was witness to that. I turned out fine. I don’t cheat on my significant other, furthermore, my attitude completely differs from that of both of my parents as well. Now my brother on the other hand, is a few years younger than I am and has mimicked my fathers behavior on some levels. Not all. One thing I would want to mention is that I do believe that we can get certain mannerisms from our parents, such as not picking up after ourselves, or not washing our hands( not talking about myself).
I don’t believe he inherited my father’s behavior, I believe its what you call Observational learning that has my brother acting the way my father did. I think exposure to certain elements in life can have a very negative effect on individuals especially if they are viewing their parents in certain acts. One of my best friends’ father beat his mother for years. He saw and witnessed every bit of it, but he now 41 years old and has never acted violent a day in his life.
If we were to believe this, then we must believe that a child of rape will become a rapist always, or a child of a murderer will grow up to be a murderer. In some cases, this happens, but its how it happens that is the key. When children are exposed to such extreme behaviors, a lot of time, if they are not intercepted in the process by authorities or caring individuals, they can certainly grow up to be exactly like their parents.
As I said before, its all about the environment. I want to say upbringing, because it does play a role, but just because someone is one way, doesn’t mean that their offspring will be. It’s like someone saying that homosexuality is hereditary.
So, personal responsibility and blame should only fall on the perperrtrators, or those who are responsible for their behavior.
At times, when the proper authorities have not intervened and children are forced to endure a lifetime of abuse from parents, or if a child has been kidnapped, then, personal responsibility and blame can be introduced. I once saw a movie called I Know My First Name is Steven. The film was a true story about a boy kidnapped at age seven by a child molester and lived with him until he was sixteen years of age. Throughout that time, the child who’d already established a life map, which is usually established by age five, his was destroyed and he came to see his abductor as his father, and he eventually participated in abducting another child for him. Though he helped the child escape in the end, society in the town he’d lived effectively turned on him not realizing he’d himself been a victim and in ways, developed stockholms syndrome.
All in all, every individual is different, things are always going to change and challenge us and victims have the strength and support to overcome challenges and tragedy, then, worrying about blame and personal responsibility won’t be an issue. Take the green river killer, he didn’t come from a broken home, heck, he was married and lived a normal life, so who can you blame for his crimes? Only him.
I don’t believe he inherited my father’s behavior, I believe its what you call Observational learning that has my brother acting the way my father did. I think exposure to certain elements in life can have a very negative effect on individuals especially if they are viewing their parents in certain acts. One of my best friends’ father beat his mother for years. He saw and witnessed every bit of it, but he now 41 years old and has never acted violent a day in his life.
If we were to believe this, then we must believe that a child of rape will become a rapist always, or a child of a murderer will grow up to be a murderer. In some cases, this happens, but its how it happens that is the key. When children are exposed to such extreme behaviors, a lot of time, if they are not intercepted in the process by authorities or caring individuals, they can certainly grow up to be exactly like their parents.
As I said before, its all about the environment. I want to say upbringing, because it does play a role, but just because someone is one way, doesn’t mean that their offspring will be. It’s like someone saying that homosexuality is hereditary.
So, personal responsibility and blame should only fall on the perperrtrators, or those who are responsible for their behavior.
At times, when the proper authorities have not intervened and children are forced to endure a lifetime of abuse from parents, or if a child has been kidnapped, then, personal responsibility and blame can be introduced. I once saw a movie called I Know My First Name is Steven. The film was a true story about a boy kidnapped at age seven by a child molester and lived with him until he was sixteen years of age. Throughout that time, the child who’d already established a life map, which is usually established by age five, his was destroyed and he came to see his abductor as his father, and he eventually participated in abducting another child for him. Though he helped the child escape in the end, society in the town he’d lived effectively turned on him not realizing he’d himself been a victim and in ways, developed stockholms syndrome.
All in all, every individual is different, things are always going to change and challenge us and victims have the strength and support to overcome challenges and tragedy, then, worrying about blame and personal responsibility won’t be an issue. Take the green river killer, he didn’t come from a broken home, heck, he was married and lived a normal life, so who can you blame for his crimes? Only him.
