In my psychology classes at BYU, they ALWAYS talked about nature vs. nurture. Are you born with certain traits or are you a product of your environment?
It all comes down to the theory of Tabula Rasa! In other words "Blank Slate"! Are we born blank slates, or is our personalities, mannerisms, beliefs, thoughts, and mental selves all products of our environment? x This theory was first brought to the forefront by Aristotle in his early writing. Then the theory was made popular by Ibn Sina, a philosopher, who wrote, "human intellect at birth is rather like a tabula rasa, a pure potentiality that is actualized through education and comes to know". This theory can also be found in the works of Locke, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Freud.
Here is what Wikipedia said about Locke: "In Locke's philosophy, tabula rasa was the theory that the (human) mind is at birth a "blank slate" without rules for processing data, and that data is added and rules for processing are formed solely by one's sensory experiences. The notion is central to Lockean empiricism. As understood by Locke, tabula rasa meant that the mind of the individual was born "blank", and it also emphasized the individuals freedom to author his or her own soul. Each individual was free to define the content of his or her character - but his or her basic identity as a member of the human species cannot be so altered. It is from this presumption of a free, self-authored mind combined with an immutable human nature that the Lockean doctrine of "natural" rights derives."
The nice thing about Tabula Rasa is it contradicts the theory that humans are born inherently bad and evil. I do not think anyone is inherently evil. But at the same time, I know we come to this life with certain personality traits! So, when in half my psychology classes I had to write a essay on nature vs. nurture and what I believed the answer was; I always said both.
So, I am telling you this long story, to get to my point. Which is:
NOW I HAVE PROOF!
PROOF THAT NATURE EXISTS!
And it all comes down to this face! This expression that I have been trying to capture for the longest time but I never seem to take at the right time! At the mountains the camera happened to flash at just the right moment!
Here is my proof:
There have been studies that show babies mimicking the facial expressions of adults! This expression in this picture is NOT LEARNED! I CAN NOT MAKE THIS FACE... nor can Levi! The only other person I know who makes this expression is Carrie: Callie's Birthmom! If you are ever wondering what Callie's birth mom looks like, this is it! This is Carrie to a "T"! When she thinks something is funny but is trying to hold back a smile, this is what she looks like! She always slowly cuts her eyes to the side and tightens her mouth together like Callie does in this picture! This is Callie's face when she is doing something she thinks is funny but is trying to keep a strait face! It is not learned, it is built into her little spirit and is part of who she is!
Then there are some other things about her that do not come from me or Levi! Silly things... like when she dances! All my bio kids would stick their hand our and spin in a circle. No dancing skills what-so-ever and you would know why... Levi and I can NOT dance! Callie on the other hand can dip, shake, and groove! She dips really low to the ground and seems to have an internal "boogie" that none of my bio kids have and she definitely did not learn it from us! She also bites when she is mad! She HAS to bite. It is just her thing! Her tight hugs! Part of that is that she physically has very large and strong hands, but when she hugs you she hugs you TIGHT! She clings to you like no other kid I have hugged before! She is petrified of being held over your head! You can spin her around, hold her upside down, lift her high into the air by our feet... but heaven forbid you lift her over your head with your arms! All my other kids are fearless when it comes to those things, not Callie!
But then there are the things she gets from me and Levi! She loves to sing and we always sing and have music around the house! She loves the water (which she had to learn to do, she used to be petrified) because we always have water things going on around our house. She loves to wrestle, be held upside down, and thrown onto the beanbag! She is slowly being nurtured to overcome her fear of being lifted up high and she is not as scared as she used to be. She gives the best night-time prayers and will always be nurtured in her faith. And she loves being surrounded by her brothers and sisters! She is very good at sharing and will comfort Jovie when she is sad!
So, any Psychology majors who may happen upon my blog! Here ya go... here is your closing argument! Just send the professor to http://www.la-lifeiswonderful.blogspot.com/ and tell them there is a case study right there in print... Yes, there is nature AND nurture! And both are important and make us who we are!
So guys, what are some examples of nature and nurture you have seen in your kids?
3 comments:
lily is such a little GIRLIE GIRL! and I am not! she loves purses and teddy bears and necklaces shoes and PINK! i don't wear pink... and she has never seen me put on necklaces. she is also afraid of a fake roach we have, even though we have never reacted that way too it... same with halloween.. deathly afraid of that isle at walmart. shes a nut
Wow I can honestly say as Carrie's mother and Callie's Nana that, that is a spitting image of Carrie as a child and till this day, she roll's those eye's and hold's her mouth just like that. As for the dancing that has to come from Kenny's side we definelty have a little bump but no grind. As for holding her over your head yes that is Carrie to she was always terrified of that and would grab on and hold on for dear life, you could swing her by her feet, hold her upside down and no fear but even act like your gonna lift her above your head and there was no way she wanted any part of it. It will be interesting later in life to see if she is scared of Roller Coasters and escalaters cause till this day Carrie will not get on an escalater even as an adult, She sat and cried at the old Newmarket mall cause she didn't want to go down the escalater. So nature and nuture I have to agree on both. Things that come by nature it's all good. And those things that come by nurture even better. I'm thrilled that she get's the nuture from such a large family, it will be exciting to see what kind of a young lady she grow's to be.
Love ya'll
Sky
i believe that our families are perfect proof that children do not come as 'blank slates'---my children all are "Jeppsons" to those around us---but each reacts and acts so differently while enjoying the same nurture---i like to think i've had some influence--maybe on encouraging their good nature to come out!
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