| re .14
Clay,
I know this is only anecdotal, but I know personally of a couple who
adopted two children of the same parents. The parents were an unwed
mother and criminal father. The adopting couple were excellent parents
to these girls ... but through their teens and twneties, they behave far
more like their genetic parents than any behaviour they could have
acquired through their adoptive upbringing and schooling.
In their late 20s, as adult maturity set in, both of these, now women
started behaving far more in keeping with their upbringing and are
now really model children for their mother.
I have seen similar, but not so much at first hand, in other cases.
I do believe many behavioural characteristics are passed in the genes,
particularly, those that are associated with the "child" in us. I
believe the "adult" and particularly the "parent" in us are the
learned behaviours.
Stuart
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| re last few,
Actually there have been a few studies done with identical twins separated at
birth that lend credence to the idea that personality is indeed inherited.
My personal belief is that a child inherits *tendencies* towards certain
personality traits, and then the parents (and the rest of the childs environment)
work to either reinforce or counter those tendencies. For example, my
cousin, who is adopted, is a very good (even reasonably successful) artist.
Now - absolutely NOBODY in my family has any artistic talent whatsoever.
Theres alot of emphasis on science and education in my family. My aunt was
smart enough to recognize that her adopted son had little scientific and
mathematical ability but was very artistic. She encouraged him to continue
his education in college and beyond (as I said, education is very imporant
in my family) pursuing HIS intersts (sculpture). Right now he is working on
his Phd in art at Columbia University.
- Carol
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