Understanding the complexity of human behavior
Not an easy subject by any means.
Firstly it begins at a molecular level. How your genetics influence your biochemistry and ultimately how these are in turn influenced by your habits. Secondly how your Psychology is influenced by the effects of Sociology on your mental development and the person you ultimately become.
A question that always fascinated me is the one of fate or destiny. Was the homeless person siting on the corner living off scraps destined to be there? How about the CEO of a fortune 100 company? Let's put aside the stereotypical answer where the CEO came from a rich family and the homeless person prefers to beg rather than work. My point of view on the subject delivers the following logic.
At some point during each one of these peoples lives there was a defining moment that made them what they are today. Although this is true its an easy answer to a complex situation. Lets set the following control for the homeless man and CEO. They both come from a middle class home, went to the same school, lived in the same neighborhood and participated in similar activities. What happened that changed them so drastically? Societies answer, " The homeless man was lazy and had bad habits during school". "The CEO was a hard worker and had good habits during school".
What if I told you that the CEO was lazy with bad habits and the homeless man was a hard worker with good habits during school. It might seem as if I am contradicting myself. Here is my explanation, the CEO was highly intelligent. He had a photographic memory and learnt new things above average speed. This also meant that he was bored easily and needed to keep his mind busy.
He was known as talented but mischievous and lazy during his school days.
The homeless man was of average intelligence. He needed to spend more time studying. He did not understand a new concept the first time and needed time to work it out. He hardly had time for any hobbies and formed only good habits as a result. He needed to get more out of himself to perform on part with the other students. He was known as a hard working student and liked by everyone. So what happened, how did this change come about?
I started this article with talk on Genetics and Biochemistry vs Psychology and Sociology. These factors could have induced any form of change on the before mentioned subjects. That is what makes it hard to understand people. There are endless combinations of the mentioned factors that could have changed these people. A Genetic flaw could have gone unnoticed or surfaced once a person reached a certain age. The bodies Biochemistry could have been altered by a Genetic flaw. Maybe a change in diet, physical damage to the body, Psychological trauma, Sociology.
Understanding people is not as simple as only understanding the type of person you perceive at any given moment on your level of understanding. We all live in a social environment where it is key for us to understand and read people as part of our survival. We are born with this skill but it is important to realize that this skill allows us to make judgement in the moment and build a anticipation on reaction over a period of time regarding a persons average response to certain situations. This can only be done in the moment and as far as I am concerned the rest is a guessing game. There are to many variables to come to a definite conclusion.
In introspect I now know that reading, exercise and diet has changed the way my mind works. Interacting with different groups of people across different cultures has given me a better understanding of how people perceive the world and interact with it on their level of understanding.
It is a truly humbling experience studying the mind and how people see the world.
Firstly it begins at a molecular level. How your genetics influence your biochemistry and ultimately how these are in turn influenced by your habits. Secondly how your Psychology is influenced by the effects of Sociology on your mental development and the person you ultimately become.
A question that always fascinated me is the one of fate or destiny. Was the homeless person siting on the corner living off scraps destined to be there? How about the CEO of a fortune 100 company? Let's put aside the stereotypical answer where the CEO came from a rich family and the homeless person prefers to beg rather than work. My point of view on the subject delivers the following logic.
At some point during each one of these peoples lives there was a defining moment that made them what they are today. Although this is true its an easy answer to a complex situation. Lets set the following control for the homeless man and CEO. They both come from a middle class home, went to the same school, lived in the same neighborhood and participated in similar activities. What happened that changed them so drastically? Societies answer, " The homeless man was lazy and had bad habits during school". "The CEO was a hard worker and had good habits during school".
What if I told you that the CEO was lazy with bad habits and the homeless man was a hard worker with good habits during school. It might seem as if I am contradicting myself. Here is my explanation, the CEO was highly intelligent. He had a photographic memory and learnt new things above average speed. This also meant that he was bored easily and needed to keep his mind busy.
He was known as talented but mischievous and lazy during his school days.
The homeless man was of average intelligence. He needed to spend more time studying. He did not understand a new concept the first time and needed time to work it out. He hardly had time for any hobbies and formed only good habits as a result. He needed to get more out of himself to perform on part with the other students. He was known as a hard working student and liked by everyone. So what happened, how did this change come about?
I started this article with talk on Genetics and Biochemistry vs Psychology and Sociology. These factors could have induced any form of change on the before mentioned subjects. That is what makes it hard to understand people. There are endless combinations of the mentioned factors that could have changed these people. A Genetic flaw could have gone unnoticed or surfaced once a person reached a certain age. The bodies Biochemistry could have been altered by a Genetic flaw. Maybe a change in diet, physical damage to the body, Psychological trauma, Sociology.
Understanding people is not as simple as only understanding the type of person you perceive at any given moment on your level of understanding. We all live in a social environment where it is key for us to understand and read people as part of our survival. We are born with this skill but it is important to realize that this skill allows us to make judgement in the moment and build a anticipation on reaction over a period of time regarding a persons average response to certain situations. This can only be done in the moment and as far as I am concerned the rest is a guessing game. There are to many variables to come to a definite conclusion.
In introspect I now know that reading, exercise and diet has changed the way my mind works. Interacting with different groups of people across different cultures has given me a better understanding of how people perceive the world and interact with it on their level of understanding.
It is a truly humbling experience studying the mind and how people see the world.
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