Does how you were raised as a child carry over into adulthood?

I think that there are some people who are more independant than others, and make their own way. I also think that there are more people who influence each person's life than just their parents or whoever raised them, and sometimes those other influences can mean more than the parental ones. It is hard to even decide who to say raised me. I didn't live with one person my whole childhood, in fact I lived with many different people, and sometimes had nowhere to live. I had a lot of influences that were very bad... abusive, self-destructive, racist, using religion as an excuse to hate others, so many different things. I am not like any of those people that I lived with. I am not a bad person because I come from a bad family, and it makes me sad when people assume I am because that's all they know about me. The really good influences I had in my family were my great-grandparents, I suppose, and I would hope I am something like them. But that just proves that being a good influence on someone doesn't require that you be the person that raises them. =)

Absolutely - there is a whole scientific theory about nature versus nurture in the way you were raised. The environment we grow up in definitely affects who we are when we become adults. To what extent is still being argued! So my answer to this is "yes". Love your avatar, by the way. I want a tattoo like that - I already have a blue one! Adding you as a friend, hopefully you'll add me back!

YOu changed your Icon! I almost didn't recognize you! I think that the way you were brought up definitely carries over into adulthood. If a child is brought up in an abusive home, for instance, they will do one of two things when they grow up. They will be abusive as well, because it's the only thing they know... or they will go the exact opposite and never ever be abusive because they knew what it was like. The same goes for anything like rascism and religion and everything. It also works for small things. For instance, my brother had everything handed to him on a silver platter whereas I had to work hard for everything. This has carried over into our adult lives where I'm still working hard and struggling for everything I have and my brother takes Everything and everyone for granted and still gets by with... maybe not a silver platter but pretty darn close. I'm very much like my father. Not so much my mother. I think it's because I always saw my father as being strong and my mother as weak and so I guess I've grown up being like my father. Belief wise, They were pretty good parents. Not overly anything, so I guess I got lucky that way!

you are right, after one reaches a certain age and knowing the world better one ask's many questioms to one'e self and if one is keen know's the answers. i believe it a duty of the parents to tell the truth and nothing but the truth to their children so that they dont waste time in searhing for the ones they could have accuired easily, on the other hand there is a large benefit in searching for any kind of truth one self, it enriches one in big ways whnone is going through this processsearch, a lot of other things,that are benefecila can be learned too. so i believe that every one knows what is to be done according to their own knowledge. smiles, apple.

you have made a good point.true some children raised by religious parents even end up atheists.but i think in my view there are certain characters and virtues that are engraded in your childhood remain for a life time.true, not all that you learnt as a child would remain the same.as you grow you tend to make more acquaintance and get more information which in time changes your character or the way you look at a particular problem

i agree with u on that i don't really think that just because u were raised by how ur people were raised doesn't really mean that u will turn out like them........... i also heard that if u hang around someone that u just became friends with u would start acking like them i don't think that either because just like u said everyone has their own mind they can make their own choices themselves......

Once a child reaches adulthood he starts to be able to make up his/her mind up, and he has the freedom of choice and he is able to choose his own set patterns in society, he chooses where he wants to go how he treats other people and how he decides to act. He has his own set of beliefs and will be able to choose his own path, accepting his parents beliefs but having the power to choose his own if he so wishes.

As far as beliefs are concerned, if God has chosen you to be HIS child, then it does not matter if you are raised by religious parents or not. Similarly if God had not chosen you, then you have your own mind to influence you and what you consider as right from your parents. You also have to consider, religious in the sense of belief in God and obeying HIS commands and living according to the tenets of the Holy Scripture or man made rules and legalism, like what the Pharisees made the Jewish people follow. In the latter case, that religion is bad and of course, the children would rebel against someone saying, no watching Tv, no taking even one drink, one reading newspapers, wear your dress calf length or longer, no dating, etc. In the case of racist parents, they became racists due to the experiences they had had === the Negroes were subservient and said "Yes sah, no sah!" or the black people got the jobs because of affirmative action. and by the influence of society around them, and how people were treated based on their color, the parents became racists. The children did not have the same experiences so they did not become racists. It is not that the children decide that because their parents were racists, they are not going to be, it is just that they never had the experiences that made their parents that way. Mind you, with some things going on, I fear that these non-racist children might have racist children. We have to when we get rid of racism against blacks, we do not replace it with racism against whites.

I think each one of us is different, no two people are exactly the same even identical twins. I have adopted some habits and behavior from my parents but not all. Still my mother is my greatest influence, I'm still thankful for the way she raised us.

Peer pressure plays a big part in how a child grows up. Very often, because of this pressure, a child will often go against his/her better judgement. Children feel the need to be accepted by their peers and there is always someone that is more influential than others. The ring leader!

I completely agree with your point of view. You may be brought up in a religious family, but you may have the possibility without being a religious person. You may have the way of life that you think is the right kind for you though in most cases, you would be quite influenced by the surroundings around you.

Beliefs should be something that should never be presured on you. I do think that the way you were raised has alot to do with the way you grow up. The way you are raised effects the person you become in the future but, it isnt the determining factor. I think that religion, money, and parenting affects alot.

Even if we would like to think that it doesn't unfortunately it does. Sometimes that's good and sometimes it isn't. When I was little we didn't have much money and we had to decide very carefully what to buy and what not to buy. The good thing is that after a while you just realize you don't need a lot of stuff you thought you do, but the bed thing is that sometimes I think I am stingy. But not only that even in emotional way.

Not really. To some yes. But we must put into consideration that there are other influences that affect our lives. And some of these influences are the beliefs of others. In some way, they affect the way we live. Whether we accept it or not, we are all living based on the belief of others, whether they are our parents, friends, mentors, etc. But there's one thing we should keep in mind: DO NOT LET YOUR PAST DEFINE YOUR FUTURE! Jaa! ;D

I believe we carry some if it with us and leave the rest behind. The things we don't agree with or don't stand for gets left. The things that were for the good of our future and to bring us into adult hood go with us. I believe that each person is different, therefore what stays with us is reflected on our inner selves. Let's say my child misbehaves but it's not a big deal, I catch myself saying the same things that my mom said to me as a child. I don't share my mom's morals when it comes to a relationship as a couple though. I'm a more independant, I'll do as I want (within reason, not like I'll cheat or be where I shouldn't)kind of gal. I also believe that when you're around someone enough, some of their "traits, shall we say" rub off on you. Ever catch yourself using a phrase that you hear a friend or family member say all the time?

I do believe that how you were raised does carry over into your adulthood. It is either the way you choose to be, or because of your experiences, you very consciously choose to be the opposite way, but it is still a result of how you were raised. My sister and I always had family members that we referred to as our best bad examples. We strove to not be like that family member. It was their effect, though.

To a certain point I did, in terms of what church we went to and so forth. As soon as I branched out on my own, I decided what was best for me. Their way of upbringing may at times have some influence on my decision making or shall I say some influence on the way I bring up my son, but in the end, it still comes down to what I believe and choose to do.

I don't think people are influenced by their parents' beliefs. Well, they might be when they are children but when they grow up I think they tend to disagree with their parents' beliefs, like with racism or religion. I suppose it depends on the person though and if they can think for themselves or not.

If its rammed down the kids throat and the kid has enough exposure to other viewpoints and experiences then yes changes can occur. Personally I use to think I had to live like the parents, but that changed and I was able to hold my own against them. At least they didn't go pan crazy like some of dad's side (they've always hated me anyways so whatever). I feel great being me.

I think I am very much like my parents in some ways, and very different in others. There are certain aspects of my life that the way I was raised just shines through. (This usually amuses my husband who was raised very differently than me.) As an adult..and even younger I was able to determine my own rights and wrongs, but this doesn't mean that my childhood didn't influence the person I am today. Sometimes, like in your example of racism..your own upbringing can be used as a tool for how you DON'T want to be.