Let's discuss the topic of Social Heredity briefly. For those that don't know what this means: It's basically when a parent (or teachers and overall environment) pass on their beliefs to the next generation. With that said, I believe Social Heredity to be the #1 cause of ignorance in the world.
Why? Because even as adults, a lot of us think, act, and believe certain things for no reason other than you were told to at an early age. This applies to religion, education, financial, social communication, and every other possible thought and behavioral pattern. As children, we assume that virtually everything our parents, teachers and other adults say is true. In many cases, we assume that everything some of our friends say is true. But that's not all. Your parents taught you what their parents taught them and so on. In other words, the cycle continued from generation to generation. Which proves that hardly anyone will ever grow up to challenge what they were taught growing up. It's a well known fact that whatever you drill into a child's mind before they reach the age of 15 will most likely be their beliefs for the rest of their lives...unless they change it. But it becomes extremely difficult after that point.
Here's the thing though. How many of you have ever stopped, took a look at the person teaching you certain beliefs, saw that they're not the kind of person you want to be....and challenged it? For example: When your parents told you how to make it in the world. How many of you grew up with parents that struggled their whole life, and when you were old enough to understand the world, you decided to go a different route? Another example: Who grew up with racist parents who tried to teach you their hate as well, but once you were old enough to understand the world, you challenged what you were taught and found your own way?
Simply put, people pass down religious beliefs, bad money habits, racism (and other forms of intolerance) and other negative thoughts and behavior to the next generation....and we, being children with extremely fertile minds when we're taught this nonsense, believe it as if it's the absolute truth. And continue to believe it for as long as we live.
Unfortunately, most people will never challenge what they were taught growing up...despite the fact that it's not getting them anywhere. Which is interesting. Many of us will grow up and go right down the same path that our parents taught us, go through the same horrific struggles, and never think to do anything different. All because we're afraid to go against what we were taught as children...
How many of you were brought up a certain way, believed as your parents believed, only to challenge it later on in life in order to move ahead?
Why? Because even as adults, a lot of us think, act, and believe certain things for no reason other than you were told to at an early age. This applies to religion, education, financial, social communication, and every other possible thought and behavioral pattern. As children, we assume that virtually everything our parents, teachers and other adults say is true. In many cases, we assume that everything some of our friends say is true. But that's not all. Your parents taught you what their parents taught them and so on. In other words, the cycle continued from generation to generation. Which proves that hardly anyone will ever grow up to challenge what they were taught growing up. It's a well known fact that whatever you drill into a child's mind before they reach the age of 15 will most likely be their beliefs for the rest of their lives...unless they change it. But it becomes extremely difficult after that point.
Here's the thing though. How many of you have ever stopped, took a look at the person teaching you certain beliefs, saw that they're not the kind of person you want to be....and challenged it? For example: When your parents told you how to make it in the world. How many of you grew up with parents that struggled their whole life, and when you were old enough to understand the world, you decided to go a different route? Another example: Who grew up with racist parents who tried to teach you their hate as well, but once you were old enough to understand the world, you challenged what you were taught and found your own way?
Simply put, people pass down religious beliefs, bad money habits, racism (and other forms of intolerance) and other negative thoughts and behavior to the next generation....and we, being children with extremely fertile minds when we're taught this nonsense, believe it as if it's the absolute truth. And continue to believe it for as long as we live.
Unfortunately, most people will never challenge what they were taught growing up...despite the fact that it's not getting them anywhere. Which is interesting. Many of us will grow up and go right down the same path that our parents taught us, go through the same horrific struggles, and never think to do anything different. All because we're afraid to go against what we were taught as children...
How many of you were brought up a certain way, believed as your parents believed, only to challenge it later on in life in order to move ahead?
Props:
milkky and milkky
