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Do childhood experiences determine behavior in later life? Do childhood experiences determine behavior in later life?
Yes, childhood experiences determine behavior later in life Yes, childhood experiences determine behavior later in life
No, childhood experiences do not influence adult behavior No, childhood experiences do not influence adult behavior
Childhood experiences influences, but does not determine adult behavior Childhood experiences influences, but does not determine adult behavior
Childhood rearing and experience determines the future behaviour of person Childhood rearing and experience determines the future behaviour of person
The treatment you receive as a child shapes your behaviour towards your health as an adult The treatment you receive as a child shapes your behaviour towards your health as an adult
Coming from a broken family results in the child forming unhealthy romantic relationships as an adult Coming from a broken family results in the child forming unhealthy romantic relationships as an adult
The fundamental lessons you are taught as a child form the foundation of a person’s understanding of the world and relationships. The fundamental lessons you are taught as a child form the foundation of a person’s understanding of the world and relationships.
Childhood trauma often results in irregular behavior and interpersonal difficulties in adults Childhood trauma often results in irregular behavior and interpersonal difficulties in adults
Every human has free will, so behavior as an adult is based on choice, despite childhood experience Every human has free will, so behavior as an adult is based on choice, despite childhood experience
Blaming your childhood experiences for the behavior and mistakes you make as an adult is just a scapegoat for not taking responsibility for yourself. Blaming your childhood experiences for the behavior and mistakes you make as an adult is just a scapegoat for not taking responsibility for yourself.
You can challenge the beliefs that you formed as a child You can challenge the beliefs that you formed as a child
You are in control of changing self-limiting behaviour You are in control of changing self-limiting behaviour
Early year parent-child relationships influence future academic performance Early year parent-child relationships influence future academic performance
Adverse childhood experiences affect adult personality traits Adverse childhood experiences affect adult personality traits
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Do childhood experiences determine behavior in later life?
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Yes, childhood experiences determine behavior later in life

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The treatment you receive as a child shapes your behaviour towards your health as an adult

The way in which you were treated as a child can impact your level of conscientiousness towards your health as an adult. The more you are treated to develop as a conscientious child, the less likely you are to abuse your health and vice versa.
S E Hampson and Others
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The Argument

Your childhood experiences shape you, and therefore your beliefs. Those beliefs shape your behaviour and conscientiousness. Studies have shown that the more conscientious you are as a child, the better your health is across your lifespan. A study was undertaken where children aged close to 10 years of age were assessed by their teachers on their levels of conscientiousness. When these children were observed again as adults, at a mean age of 51, various health checks were conducted on them. It was found that children that were regarded to be more conscientious had better global health than those that were not. [1]

Counter arguments

Levels of conscientiousness are not set in stone throughout life. They can be developed as you transition through life. There are factors associated with the idea of being conscientious. When people engage in tasks that they find fit with their values, find enjoyable and important, the level of conscientiousness towards the task improves.[2] A growing number of studies suggest that personality traits that are problematic to health can be improved, and this includes conscientiousness. By taking a bottom-up approach, and targeting the core personality traits, over time an individual is capable of altering these to generate healthier, more conscientious behaviour. [3]

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Premises

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References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3754851/
  2. https://hbr.org/2018/03/becoming-more-conscientious
  3. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-28870-001
This page was last edited on Sunday, 4 Oct 2020 at 21:27 UTC

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