Saturday 30 March 2013

Family Shapes You Into Who You Are

By Atchafalaya Rose


Your parents and your environment, as well as other siblings and family members, play or have played a major role in what you value and the development of your character. It has been stated that all forms of parental interaction: verbal, physical or otherwise assist in reinforcing children's values and behavior. You may have learned that through the process of genetics, some of your behavioral traits are inherited from your parents. You may have also heard that your values, what you consider as important, begin with what you have been taught.

Character plays a key role in families. Character Education as taught by The Peaceful Solution Character Education Program is a whole new way to socialize our children. Negative or positive character has the ability to destroy a family or strengthen and build the family unit. The role of parents and the family in shaping a positive or negative character cannot be overstated.

Have you ever heard someone say "You look just like your dad," or "You act just like your sister." Genetics account for similarities in both our physical and our character traits. For instance, does your mom cry at sad movies? Do you? If you cry at sad movies like your mom, this could be a result of inheriting a compassionate character. In other words, you have empathy for the characters in the movie. The word empathy simply means the ability to feel what others feel and to identify with their experiences.

Family members also share personality traits, but unlike character traits, which are sometimes inherited genetically, shared personality traits are often learned behaviors. A learned behavior is something you see and then practice. It is developed over time and within certain environments. For instance, do you like to go fishing? A love for fishing is an example of a personality trait that is learned. Maybe your father or grandfather liked to fish and taught you to value this same hobby. The excitement of catching your first fish and being praised for your efforts made it an experience you learned to value. You therefore have acquired that personality trait.

Even within the same family, there are many differences and similarities. The combination of character, personality, environment, and experiences makes each person one of a kind. However, the most significant factors that shape you into who you are, are your parents and other family members. Of course, the same character and personality traits will not be common to all members of the family, because along with shared traits, each person is born with qualities that are unique. No two people think or act exactly alike. For instance, you may resemble your brother, but you are serious, whereas, he loves to laugh at everything. You may be neat and organized, whereas he throws his stuff everywhere.

If you are expected to complete chores, do homework, or help to take care of a younger sibling, you are being taught responsibility. If your parents insist that you eat only nutritious foods then you are being taught to value your health. If you have older siblings who are patient with you, then they are, by their example, helping you to develop the character trait of patience. These are only a fraction of the ways your parents and other family members can help you develop your character and personality. It is from these two sources that you learn what to value, how to behave, and how to respond to different situations; and all of these things help to shape your character.




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