Do you think that life experiences make us strong or weak individuals or are we born that way?

Answer 1

I think a question like this creates a false dichotomy, and my natural aversion to extremes makes me think that it is a mix of the both.

Certainly the way we respond to stimuli seems to be genetic. But a person who was given a rebellious demenor, who would thrive in a tough enviroment, would rebel against the good life middle class parents might offer, by falling into drugs, and/or crime.

Conversly a person with an accepting attitude will do well in the middle class enviroment, accepting the rules as taught by his family and school, and go on to excel in our society, where such a submissive person would do poorly in an impoverished society, and will have a good chance of taking the fall for someone else, thinking it is simply his fate.

Oddly enough, cloning experiments are hinting at the idea that are genetics is not as 'built in' as we had once belived. Among cloned cattle, it appears that, even though genetics creates the form, the enviroment affects a sub-set of the genes, altering the adult cow in subtle way, on the genetic level.

Facinating stuff...

Answer 2

I agree with 'old-woman', it's a case of nature & nurture. I have seen some individuals go through hell and come out stronger and yet others crushed by a smaller dose of adversity.

I think childhood matters. I 'perfect' childhood might not give a person the skills and inner strength to survive whereas a tougher childhood makes you tougher (I speak from experience). I've heard that Hemingway said, "What doesn't kill you makes you strong" or something along those lines.

However, it would be false logic to say that it is therefore best to give a child a tough childhood - the old, "this was done to me and I turned out alright" because, in effect, we only tend to talk to the survivors.

Like all questions posed here, there is no simple answer. Tennyson said that we are "a part of all we have met" and I truly believe that. Meeting one person (with in person, in a book or online) can help you through a tough moment and change your life forever.

Answer 3

When we're born we're a blank canvas of sorts - emotionally unscathed and untouched by any of life's cruelties. Before we experience life, we experience people. In my opinion, because parents have such a huge role in a child's socialization process, they are a large determinant of how resilient their child will become, not because of genetics or anything preordained, but purely because they raise their children with their life experiences at the back of their mind. Slowly we come to absorb much of the qualities, strengths, and weaknesses that they possessed in their life. We may deflect and filter our upbringing, but the sentiments of the people who raised us are ingrained in us forever. This is why you see how damaged the children of unsupportive parents and family members end up being. When a person over a long period of time reinforces that we are weak, we are middling or mediocre or incapable, we come to believe that and we become a weaker individual. When a person tells us that we are competent and talented, and that limitless are our gifts, we become stronger. Thus people precede life experience in determining how strong or weak individuals are. Life experience beats down and lifts up everyone in cycles - it's a matter of what state we were in previous to these experiences that is of more significance.

Answer 4

well if you are suggesting that the will is stronger. If you have bad experiences you must be strong to over come them. if you lay down and take the beating from the certain experience that will display weakness.

The more experiences that one over comes makes them a stronger person.

someone else answered saying some are born stronger. I think some are born with a stronger will and will do everything they can to overcome the obsticals presented to them.

Answer 5

I tend to think we are born with some of it. If out intellect is in good working order, life's experiences can make us stronger. If we should be born a weaker individual, then life's experiences will weigh heavily on us and pull one down lower. So some of the fault is what we had at birth. My opinion.

Answer 6

I think both are true. We react to our environment. It can make us stronger if we are the right kind of person.
I have depression sickness I feel sad alot and anti social. I feel weak and powerless. But when I am better I am much stronger a person. I dont worry about petty arguements and small things that bother people because I have been through alot worse. So I am stronger even though I feel weak and depressed right now.

Answer 7

Experience makes the strong, stronger and the weak, weaker.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Life experience just exist. Whether you are a strong or not so strong person, depends on how you deal with those experiences.

Answer 10

If you take those experiences and learn from them, then they make you strong. However, if you fail to learn from them, they can make you a weak person who keeps doing the same wrong things over and over again.