Dr. Lappin

Psy 115W: Human Knowledge Acquisition

Thought Paper 2

Our Curious Development

What makes me, me? There seem to be two opposing components that cooperate unlike any other system known to scientists: our experiences and our brain. The age-old question about the conflicting roles of nature and nurture as the components of our being is one that has no simple answer. Are we the handiwork of our own mind (our brain and its functions) or that of our surrounding? Of course we are affected by both means; we are in fact delicate creations that mature in the light of our genetics and by the influence of our surroundings- people such as parents and environments such as schools.

To get a better look at this issue, we may look at the genius, the artistic, and the athletically inclined. How are these "lucky" few so gifted in these fields? Partly, they are just that, gifted; they are in other words born with certain genes that enable them to easily acquire understanding of the topic. A person gifted with musical abilities, can more easily play by ear and with less effort than would a person that has trained himself or herself to do the same. Of course, this raises another controversial question: can an "average person" ever acquire the same ability- whether in music, painting, playing soccer, etc.- as a person born with genes that better aid understanding of such things. My personal understanding leads me to believe that given the same surroundings, the person with the genes that promote such abilities will develop a "better" ability and at a faster rate than the "normal" person. And since no one person experiences the world like any other, the delicate balance between the effects of surroundings and our biology remains a mystery. Interestingly, each (biological attributes and experiences) is dependent on the other; our biology determines partly how we perceive the world and in turn what we see- in other words our surroundings- dictates how we develop.

Damasio understands the link between our personality, our experiences, and our emotions to be more closely intertwined that traditionally believed. Experiences form our understanding of the world around us; they give way to our knowledge. In turn we use our developed knowledge to perceive the world- it is an endless circle with one leading to the other and so forth.

Let us first focus on the physical aspect. By this I am speaking of the brain, the unimaginably delicate and intricate mass of neurons and axons. Our emotions are processed in the central part of the brain and messages are electrochemically transferred to the frontal lobe via the network of axon; it is in the frontal lobe where the information is processed and rational decisions are made. In taking the case of Phineas Gage as an example, we can see this interdependence and the delicacy of the brain. After suffering damage to the frontal lobe, Gage is unable to act "rationally"; he is unable to make proper decisions. "[Although] the absence of emotion and feeling is no less damaging, no less capable of compromising the rationality that makes us distinctively human and allows us to decide in consonance with a sense of personal future, social convention, and moral principle," once the network responsible for transferring the processed emotions to the area responsible for decision-making is broken, the processed emotions are not bound by no rational and are freely expressed- however inappropriate. It is evident that once the unity (the network of axons) is disrupted, the brain fails to function properly; when one part of the brain is damaged, all other parts suffer the same. Imagine how detrimental it would be to not make proper or rational decisions even for one day, let alone a lifetime as in Gage’s tragedy. Imagine putting to words every emotion and random thought with no control! I for one have many thoughts gone unexpressed. Our biology evidently plays a significant role in our character- whether it is the condition of our brain or the effects of the decisions made by our frontal lobe.

The effects of our surroundings, I believe, are as evident in our character and personality as our biology. As discussed before, our experiences and therefore knowledge lead to our perception of the world. We are shaped by our experiences. For example, a near death experience is often a maturing experience leading to a future of cautious decision making, for which the frontal lobe is responsible. This raises the question: do our surroundings or surrounding experiences change our biology? Well, I believe in some ways they do. Obviously, living in an area where brain-damaging fumes are abundant will damage one’s brain and change his or her character. But this is not what I am speaking of. Do certain experiences lead to a chemical change in our brain, which cause us to make more rational decisions after experiencing a near death experience? The answer to this question is highly debatable; my understanding is that it is not a chemical change which affects us most, however, that is a likely possibility and subject to experimentation. I believe that drastic experiences add to our bank of knowledge and stand out; we subconsciously use this acquired knowledge to make wiser decisions in the future. We can see how experiences are responsible for our character.

So what makes me, me? The delicate effects of the life I lead make me, who I am! My surroundings (both environment and experiences) along with my genetics and physiology (the functionality of my brain and its many constituents) develop my personality and character and dictate the everyday decisions that I make. I develop in the light of my own choices; interestingly, it is my development, which leads to the later choice I make. My choosing not use illegal drugs among the many other detrimental habits is what keeps my mind clean and helps me make rational decisions that affect my future; I can easily see that my choices affect me directly. It is the curious nature of our being that what we do will affect us later.