What do you think is the biggest influence on one's upbringing (up until they're 18)?

[Syringer]

In my view, in the early stages of life kids are obviously most dependent on their parents, but as kids grow up they get much more heavily influenced by their peers as they separate from their parents.

Plus, genes take over with hormones doing all sorts of crazy things when puberty hits, at which point kids really start to separate from each other and go on their own separate ways..

 

[tweakmm]

Genes/parental guidance until 12 or so
Genes/peer influence 12 and after

 

[Perknose]

Penis, or lack thereof.

 

[SonnyDaze]

You should add society to your poll. I think a lot of kids (teens) today are influenced by society (internet, TV, movies, fads, etc).

 

[acemcmac]

I voted parental guidance, but I really meant SPIDER

 

[mordantmonkey]

all three to some extent but not equally. depending on your genes, your hormones and brain chemicals could have a severe impact. However, if peer or parental influence is dramatically bad or good, it could also have a greater impact. I think it depends on the person and their life experiences as to which influences them more. Not to mention the entire idea of free will, where one may chose how things in their life impact their character.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
You should add society to your poll. I think a lot of kids (teens) today are influenced by society (internet, TV, movies, fads, etc).

Hmm good point, but that can be kind of clustered in with peer influence as well.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
I voted parental guidance, but I really meant SPIDER

QFT

 

[SaltBoy]

It's parents, without question. Sure, society and other people may influence the parents, but children only imitate what their parents do.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: SaltBoy
It's parents, without question. Sure, society and other people may influence the parents, but children only imitate what their parents do.

The older I get, and the more I am around kids, the less and less I agree with that. Two kids can be conceived by the same parents, raised the same way, and given the same opportunities...but those two kids can turn out to be two VERY different people.

I think genetics play a huge factor in things with social input (both peer and parental) being a lesser factor. They certainly play some role, but I ultimately think that individual personalities rule out over other influences.

Some people are born bad. Some are born good. Some are born dumb. Some are born smart. Some are born creative, others athletic. Some with a huge competive streak, others with unmotivational apathy.

I think that parents and peers can certainly boost those basic traits if the child has them, and slightly dampen them, but overall you can't make someone something they were never meant to be.

 

[oddyager]

It was a combination of both parent and society, but any clash between the two, parents easily override the other.

 

[Atheus]

Strange everyone voted for parents. Yea maybe until the kid is 10 years old, but past that, people tend to ignore their parents as much as possible. I sure did.

 

[lyssword]

Originally posted by: SaltBoy
It's parents, without question. Sure, society and other people may influence the parents, but children only imitate what their parents do.

Not completely true. I think i'm a proof of that . Sure, maybe up to 10-13, but then they make up their own mind which way to go.

"whats wrong with living in a civilization, in a society?"
"You don't understand Kyle, society doesnt understand. They are too busy societizin me and everybody else, you don't even stop to think how you societize yourself"

 

[erub]

I'm 22 and I think my parents are still the biggest influence in my life, even though I live 1000+ miles away I overwhelmingly take their advice (esp. my mom)..then again I guess I am lucky that they are pretty good role models..or maybe I'm just brainwashed