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Since
the first caveman scratched his head and wondered why his closest
hunting friend was so unpredictable, humans have been mulling over
issues of temperament, disposition, constitution, and character,
trying to understand why we differ from one another in so many ways.
Writings from various early civilizations
show how seriously our predecessors struggled with this question.
Before we look at some of the early efforts, try to imagine yourself
searching for an explanation without any previous knowledge about
human development. This will not be easy. We have had nearly a
century of scientific and unscientific argument that the development
of child to adult depends on all the moment-to-moment actions of the
parents. Try to let that go. Assume you see differences and believe
they came with the child. Now try to think about what those
differences might be related to. This may have you scratching your
head, as well.
This is pretty much the problem that
early philosophers, physicians, and everyday citizens were faced
with. It may seem surprising to think that we have not always
believed that children’s characteristics are shaped by their
parents, but in fact, that is the case. In the more narrow sense of
moral character—honesty, fairness, etc--the idea that training
produces character is certainly old. The Bible, for example, gives
such advice as, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when
he is old he will not depart from it.”1
Similar advice can be seen throughout the centuries
since. However, the idea that family environment could affect
warmth, love, capacity for happiness, and on the negative side could
cause anxiety, depression and even more severe mental illness is a
very modern idea. As you will see, the facts suggest that this view
is only partially true.
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