Are we responsible for our actions?

Question

Are we the way we are because of our upbringing, environment, and life experiences? If my parents are criminals am I more likely to become a criminal myself? Bad environments do produce some good people, but they produce more "bad" people. Do we have free will with conscious choices or is it an illusion, and we are the product of our environment?

Answer 1

We can only ever be partly responsible for any of our actions as much as some may like to try and distance themselves from their responsibility for another’s actions.

This may sound strange but here is the explanation,

We all exist within a society that follows the small world effect.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_world_phenomenon
http://www.fortunecity.com/emachines/e11/86/sixdeg.html
http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/science/small_world.htm
I wont go into to much detail however we are all affecting each other in large and small ways. These effects are then passed on to others when those that we effect, effect others (usually in the same manner as we have effected them). The effect of this is to create what is called a resonant network where all points are affecting all other points at the same time.

So if I do something mean to you (maybe I have had a bad day) you will take out your emotions (not saying you are vindictive, just this happens sub-consciously) on someone else, this starts a resonance through the network. These effects can also be isolated and amplified in curtain sections of the community by way of our associations and finacial/phisical status

At the same time our society is telling us what is right and what is wrong (many people believe that it is a built in moral compass, if only it where), so when someone acts upon their upbringing (and imposed network resonant effects) and commits a crime against what our society has told us is right, those who are the first to condemn are also the first to put negative resonance on to the network (and are also usually the last to lend a helping hand to those who need it before they act upon their upbringing).

Although I am in on way saying that this is an excuse that can be used to shift blame completely from ourselves since we have free will, what I am saying is that we can never be one hundred percent responsible for our own actions unless we live in a bubble that has no way to communicate with the outside.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

We are a combination of nature & nurture. Some qualities you are born with, some are part of your upbringing, but you are still responsible for your actions. If you have a poor upbringing, your parents are cruel to you, etc, then certainly it will have an effect & may make you more likely to perpetuate their mistakes (a life of violence, crime etc) but this is not an excuse. As soon as you are old enough to distinguish right from wrong, then you know whether you should be doing something or not. It is still your choice to engage in bad behaviour if you do. You are not a puppet on a string. You have freewill. Two people may have been beaten as children. One will choose to be a violent criminal & the other will become a social worker, activisit, pacifist who will never be violent & will stand up for victim's rights. It's a choice. Yes life can be unfair & some people have disadvantages while others have advantages but the point of life is to make the best of it. You choose how to play the hand that you are dealt. Bad environments don't create bad people. Some of the greatest people in history came from lives of violence, poverty, crime & war & yet these tragedies & adversities inspired them to make the world a better place. You can do anything you set your mind to. Sometimes it's just easier for people to do the wrong thing. But there's no excuse for evil deeds. It is a conscious choice.

Answer 3

It's true. Upbringing, environment, and experiences all have profound effects on people. However, not ALL people whose parents are criminals, for example, are destined to become criminals. Not everyone who plays violent video games will necessarily commit these acts in real life. The difference is the ability to monitor one's own actions and maintain self-control. While someone may be considered to be "predisposed" due to their life experiences, whether or not a person actually carries out these actions lies solely on their shoulders, and responsibility thus falls entirely on that person.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, when a person reaches the age of eighteen he or she must be responsible for their actions. Their not children anymore.
In just a few cases there comes the word incompetence whereas some individuals can not be held responsible for their action though when Murder is committed, it becomes a battle that few should have the grace of amnesty from Murder simply because they're incompetent.

Unfortunately the law has changed, but the battle continues for those who are mentally ill and cannot stand trial for their actions.

Answer 5

i personally think it's all of the above. your upbringing, environment and life experiences help to shape the person you are. but in life we all have choices, whether we want to admit that or not. sometimes there isn't a positive choice but there is still a choice.
in the end the person ultimately responsible is yourself because you're the one who has to decide what to do. and yes we do have free will whether people want to accept it or not

Answer 6

Yes we are responsible for our actions. Anyone who says we arent is refusing to deal with life or has a guilty conscious about something they have done. Now if society would just hold these wrong doers responsible for their actions instead of letting them off due to something that happened to them 10 years ago, the world woud be a better place.

Answer 7

Desire is the root of humanities problems. Desire, through the law of karma, actions in thought, word, and deed are the creators of our life circumstances and our destiny. Choose carefully the thoughts you allow to enter your mind. Read "As a man thinketh"by James Allen.

Answer 8

YES !! As adults we can look back at a crappy upbringing and CHANGE the way we do things.

We have the CHOICE to do many things everyday. We choose exactly where we are and what we do.

Answer 9

As children, no. Our parents or those who have raised us are responsible for what the child does (or doesn't do) because it is THEIR responsibility to guide the child in his/her path.

As adults, yes.

Our upbringing may have trained us to do horrible,unspeakable, and unforgivable things, but we are still responsible for our own actions.

We all instinctively know the difference between right and wrong.

Answer 10

Yes we are reponsible for our actions. We are affected by our environment but we have the power to change it.