Our understanding of the brain determines our understanding of the human nature. Our social behaviors are a combination of our basic animal instincts and intelligent human faculties. But, the latter is most often influenced by our cultures.
It’s true that human civilization formed culture but then the formed culture, in turn, influenced our brain. Thus, both mutually influence each other. This is particularly evident from the example of a nomadic tribe called the ‘Sea Gypsies’, a wandering water tribe who live in a cluster of tropical islands. Their children can dive down to over thirty feet beneath the earth’s surface. In this process, they have also learned to lower their heart rates and can stay under water for a longer duration of time. They can also see clearly in the water without any goggles. This is not something genetic. Research shows that this has been taught to them. This is one of the many instances of the training effects that can alter our preconceived notions of what we consider ‘hardwired’.
Our cultures influence our various thought processes. The repetitive tasks in our culture change our neuronal circuits and these get hard wired into our circuitry, in other words, the behaviors induced by these changes then become natural to us and define our identities in the contemporary world. But does this mean that these so-called natural human behaviors cannot be modified? I think these can be changed by triggering the behaviors that formed it first place. Here, I am trying to imply that behaviors can be changed because our brain can change.
Besides, I think that our experiences shape us. They determine who we are in the present and hence, influence our future. John Locke proposed the idea of ‘Tabula Rasa’ that states that human beings are born as clean slates and the chalk of experience is used to write on it. Thus, no one is a born criminal. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that his/her environment forced them to give precedence to their aggressive animal instincts over the intellectual traits that helps one determine the difference between right or wrong (which is relative) and highly dependent on myriad cultural aspects. So, let’s give people a chance to change.
References:
[1] Doidge, Norman. The Brain That Changes Itself. Annerley, Qld: Queensland Braille Writing Association, 2012. Print.
