Re: Innate or Learned?

kdgn · ‎03-09-2010

On 9/15/2014 Marp2 said:
Clearly compulsively was the wrong word to use if it is being interpreted in a negative way.

It was meant to indicate someone that sees a need, is able to help then offers without regard to being personally affected by extending the help because it is the right thing to do.

Perhaps it is a "need" in the sense of seeing something that can be "fixed" and feeling "I" have to do something to make this better.

My first thought is that someone is born with this as a personality trait. It may be strengthened by seeing or learning from others.

dooBdoo · ‎06-27-2010

Interesting topic. My first reaction is that compassion and the desire to be of service to others is innate to some, and would flourish with or without a role model. In others, it's innate but dormant and needs nourishing and guidance. But I think we need at least a seed of the intrinsic characteristic.

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova

Marp2 · ‎01-31-2012

dooB,

What you wrote would go far in explaining the sometimes dramatic differences between siblings.

Lila Belle · ‎01-24-2013

Both. And TYJ that we are blessed to have people like these in our midst.

mstyrion · ‎08-29-2014

Mostly innate if I go by the description in the OP.

The behavior may become learned but will never come as naturally as with someone who has the personality trait. You can learn to be helpful, but if you are helpful without even thinking about it, I think it's innate.

betteb · ‎03-09-2010

On 9/15/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 9/15/2014 Marp2 said:
Interesting that so many say it is both innate and learned. Does that mean you think it is innate but needs to be nurtured or something else?

Re: what I said, I didn't mean it could be both for the same person.

Some people are born without the ability to understand the feelings of others, or to feel anything for other people. Ted Bundy, psychopath. And we're learning there are more sociopaths than we ever thought.

IMO, that's partly because more sociopaths are being nurtured. In an effort to nurture self esteem in our children some have gone too far and raised children who think the world revolves around them and that others are inconsequential. JMO

As to the question, I think most everyone that has posted is correct. It comes from both nature and nurture on a case by case basis.

It's God's job to judge the terrorists. It's our mission to arrange the meeting. U.S. Marines

sydsgma1 · ‎03-09-2010

Marp...what you are describing is cached under altruism and empathy. When I did my doctorate, one of my profs conducted a long study on these vs, sociopathy. If I remember, these are innate personality traits. Nurture did not have a lot to do with it. Now when altruism and empathy develop into too much caregiving to the point of feeling perhaps being taken advantage of...that can fall under co dependency. Make sense????

just bee · ‎03-10-2010

If I absolutely had to choose one answer it would have to be innate.

~My philosophy: Dogs are God's most perfect creatures. Angels, here on Earth, who teach us to be better human beings.~

magicmoodz · ‎03-16-2010

On 9/15/2014 dooBdoo said:
Interesting topic. My first reaction is that compassion and the desire to be of service to others is innate to some, and would flourish with or without a role model. In others, it's innate but dormant and needs nourishing and guidance. But I think we need at least a seed of the intrinsic characteristic.

Spot on with my beliefs, dooB!