In Reply to: Re: Each one a king posted by Passing By on June 12, 2006 at 20:51:56:
You wrote:
"For what I read, the human being is selfish to start with. We don't get better as we grow up and gradually become unselfish. All of our decisions are based on two notions we are either doing something for the positive reward or we are doing it to prevent a punishment."
Human development theory suggests that we're born "self-centered," which in practical terms means we're born with the hardwiring necessary to survive and thrive as an organism. A baby thinks only of its own hunger; it is not capable of understanding or caring about the hunger of its mother or her survival needs.
There isn't widespread agreement on whether humans become less or more self-centered as they develop. Best thinking I've seen on this subject suggests that some humans do become less self-centered, while others do not. Between birth and about age 9 or 10, many children will have developed a capacity for empathy, i.e., the ability to understand the feelings and respect the competing needs of other people. The capacity for empathy appears to stem from combination of genetic inheritance and environmental conditions.
Evolutionary psychologists argue that the development of empathy provides a competitive advantage to species survival. Empathy is what allows humans to act on altruistic behavior, which insures the survival of the species as a whole.
You wrote:
"In the previous paradigms behavior was assumed to be initiated by something internal. Current thinking places the environment, including the values, as the motivating energy that changes behavior."
Studies of identical twins separated at birth who are raised in different environments suggest that there are a number innate character traits that are hardwired by genetics. These are extremely difficult to change, if not impossible. Current research suggests that homosexual orientation is one of those "hardwired" character traits that is determined through a combination of genetic predisposition and the in utero environment of the developing infant. You can change behavior, just like you can change someone's eyes from blue to brown with a pair of colored contact lens, but you can't change the innate disposition of certain character traits.
"In an individualistic society, each person will strive to have as much control as possible and want to be a king."
Control over what? Control over one's "self" is usually defined as "autonomy," or the ability to choose one's own condition in life. The capacity to exercise autonomy or control over one's self is dependent on others, however. If I am born female in societies that value individualism, I am encouraged to develop autonomy, and if I so choose, to use birth control and become independent of my biological function as a child-bearer. Other societies, which value female subordinance, do not grant their members that latitude.
Autonomous individuals do not necessarily want to exercise control over others or be a "king" over them. Whatever I choose for myself as an autonomous individual is not necessarily something I feel compelled to impose on others. Humans may have a desire to control what other humans do, but generally this is up to the point of ensuring one's own safety and security. Drawing the line on having a resonable sense of safety and security and an neurotic overcompensation is what's tricky.
Here again, the capacity for empathy makes a tremendous difference between people who can "live and let live" and those who are control freaks. Empathy allows individuals to develop egalitarian behavior. If I understand how you feel, I may ultimately decide that your feelings are no less important or valid than my own. If we are equal, why would I want to dominate (control) you? This behavior (dominance) would occur largely because I am extremely fearful about ensuring my own survival. What if, however, I have determined (for any number of compelling reasons related to survival of the species) that your survival is more valuable than my own?
Why did Father Maximillion Kolbe volunteer to die at Auschwitz by replacing a man with dependent children?