My Experience

Genetic influence contributes to my learning style or process and temperament. Environmental influence contributes to what I learn such as actions, reactions, self-concept, and dispositions. Witnessing abuse in my family when I was growing up has changed my personality. Watching the physical abuse and listening to verbal abuse has contributed to neurotic episodes in my adult life. I can be negative, harsh, demanding, and accusing as well as physically abusive with my husband. Although this does not occur as often as it did while growing up, it is still abuse and contributes to the possibility my children will continue with this as they age.

While witnessing my step-dad abuse my mother, I was determined to not allow any man to put his hands on me. Unfortunately, this allowed me to become the abuser. My step-dad was verbally abusive to my mom, my sister, and to me. I was never good enough in his eyes, I would never become anything in life, and I always strived for perfection. I still struggle with not being good enough for anyone in my life.

“Once children’s self-concepts are firmly established, they will alter, modify, or manipulate their environments to match, confirm, or elaborate the temperamental dispositions they already have” (Axia College, p. 214). My temperament, or genes, can contribute to inheriting certain traits. Watching my parents helped me to learn how to fight and become abusive even though I did not want to behave this way. When my parents became abusive, the police never showed up and they were not held accountable. This environment allowed my neuroticism to grow because if they were not held accountable, neither would I be held accountable.

References

Axia College (2011). Traits Across the Lifespan: Continuity and Change. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from Axia College, PSY230 website.