Does someones childhood affect what they do as an adult?

1. 57

   NicholasAposted 11 years ago

   Does someones childhood affect what they do as an adult?

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2. 86

   Cardisaposted 11 years ago

   In some cases it does depending on what happened during their childhood. Most people do what they learn as children. For instance, if a child grows up in a home where cursing is the norm, there is a chance they will curse/swear as an adult.
   
   If a child was abused (being slapped or hit), there is a chance he/she will become abusive (not always the case but likely).
   
   In some cases it's different as tragedy or other life changing events can cause the person to be totally different from what they knew as a child. For example, my fiancé hates alcohol because his mother was an alcoholic.
   
   As I said before it all depends on the adult and their childhood and how it affected them.
   
   When an adult acts a certain way there is a chance that something happened in the past (childhood or adulthood) to cause them to behave that way, especially if they have that baggage carrying around.
   
   In a positive light, I still do things the way I was taught as a child. So my mannerisms and character are a reflection of that childhood.

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3. 0

   Starmom41posted 11 years ago

   to some degree, yes- a person is the product of their experiences.
   I do, however, believe too many people use "bad childhoods" as a "convenient excuse" for wrongdoing in later life.

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   1. 57

      NicholasAposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree Starmom. The "I had a bad childhood" excuse is not acceptable in some situations. No one had a perfect childhood, we're all dysfunctional. Some people just refuse to acknowledge it.

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      Starmom41posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I wouldn't say everybody's dysfunctional, more like most people learn to take the bad with the good & not let the bad be their driving force.

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4. 73

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   Of course. We are 60-80% our surroundings growing up. The rest we were born with.

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      NicholasAposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Can't you choose though how you act and what decisions you make as an adult regardless of your childhood?

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      lburmasterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, you can choose. However, your choices are based on what you know which comes from your childhood and surroundings. So it is still based off your youth. Even so, your moods are also very important.

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   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   I think it certainly influences who we are, but it is not an excuse for poor behavior.  People tend to be victims when it gets them out of personal accountability.  How many stories have you heard of people who do terrible things and then it is said "oh, but he had a horrible childhood".... Well yes, I can see that it contributed.  As an adult however, we make choices and if we see a cycle repeating, then we are accountable to stop that cycle.  I was an abused and bullied child who was often neglected.  I chose to stop that cycle and I ensure my children are supported and nurtured, with strong guidelines and positive discipline.  I don't call my kids names, toss them down the stairs by their hair, or turn them into emotional punching bags as what happened to me.  Had I been an abuser myself, I supposed I would have had a convenient excuse, but it wouldn't have made it any less terrible or made me any less guilty.

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6. 72

   stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

   The impact is inevitable, such that your question took me aback, somewhat.  If you are born into economic means, you will surely experience a different life than another who spent his early years (and probably the present as well) dirt poor.  If you grew up with a sibling with a disability, you are far more likely to learn to be compassionate, and, as I've seen with private joy, an acquired toughness and eyes that can go from gentle and patient to steely and "Try it.  See what happens" expression as fierce as said sibling's almost too-"triggerable" fire upon any transgression against their "special" sibling who, to them, is their brother/sister before anything else, and somebody they love in that often extra strong, extra protective family unit that can circle the wagons against bullying and "adult" mountains wrt insurance, therapies, and a level of expertise achieved by necessity that is worthy and equal to Bachelors, even Masters and higher level college study.
   
   A child who grows up in that environment very likely learns some degree of self-sufficiency WAY early, as well as patience, empathy, and even an internalized identification as part of a larger unit - a larger community.
   
   Heh....boy took THAT scenario pretty far.  I think the way our childhood effects us is just as thoroughly, if maybe with some less drama or so obviously attributable personality, identity, and life course.
   
   Sadly, a childhood of neglect and abuse can produce as much strife, anger, anxiety, violence, even criminality as the above likely produces an adult with patience, resolve, a keen sense of personal, familial and social responsibility, and a skillset, social facility and drive that can only make the world a better place.
   
   Most childhoods are much more mundane than either case, but a kid, say, who grows up in a musical family (or experiences) is more likely to find him/herself drawn to the arts professionally.  Same goes for athletics, extreme focus on academics, even growing up with a military parent, and ever more so if your family endured many deployments.
   
   Whew.... anyway....yeah, I think some effect is inevitable.

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