I was just wondering how people view themselves in comparison to where their family began. For example, I am of Irish decent and I can easily trace my family back to Ireland. I personally feel I have a lot of charector traits that support me being of Irish decent even though I am American born and raised. What do you think? Can personalities be passed down from generation to generation like physical appearences?
2007-07-18 01:44:48 · 5 answers · asked by Amber 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I hate to sound horribly stereotypical, but the traits I feel I share are the fact that I can drink like a fish. Not that I'm an alcoholic, I only drink maybe twice a month, but I only weigh a 110lbs and I drink almost a 5th of whiskey to myself without going unconcious. Also I am one of the friendliest people you would ever meet in your life. I am good hearted and I enjoy laughing a lot, but I also have the shortest temper ever. One little thing can set me off, but I'm not a angry person in the least bit. I just take offense quite easily. I am known to be friends with people right after I kick their butts! I am obsessed with cabage and potatoes although that is most likely because my mom cooks a lot of Irish meals. Correct me if I am wrong because I have never been to Ireland so I guess I don't honestly know one way or another. The one thing I do know for sure is that I completely take after my Irish relatives, but maybe not the entire country.
2007-07-18 02:12:24 · update #1
I'm an American Mutt, I have almost a dozen nationalities that I can trace my heritage to, so it's hard to say wether or not I embody any of the typical personality traits of those nations. But I do think that people pass along their culture to their children. I doubt that national traits are passed on genetically, more likely that these are learned customs that we carry on through families over the generations. The Irish aren't known to have short tempers because they have some Irish gene, it's just a common trait amongst the people because it's part of the culture there.
2007-07-18 01:51:48 · answer #1 · answered by OhKatie! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't really identify with anything other than being American. I am of 'made up' of 6 different nationalities. I was raised by my mom and her parents who were Polish and Slovak so I identify a bit with being Eastern European since I was around those people a lot and grew up eating the Polish food. I had little or no contact with my father or his family so I don't identify much with his heritage (Italian, English, Irish, Scottish). I look EXACTLY like my father's mother who was 100% Italian but I don't 'feel' Italian and I'm only 25% anyway. In some ways I do identify with being English even though I'm only 14% since I have an English surname. I don't think I have any personality traits that can be stereotyped as being of a certain group other than American.
2007-07-18 08:58:18 · answer #2 · answered by Pico 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being a "mutt" I guess I could never know, but I do however believe this relates to Nature vs Nurture. Personalities and traits vary from person to person; just like physical characteristics. Theres no way to "act" like a race, its all about how a persons brought up, and what their surrounded by. and then sometimes, that cant even tell how a person will act. Ive seen many people come out of slummy situations as children, and grow up to be executives and very "important" people in society (we are ALL important somehow). Then again, Ive seen some kids have EVERYthing handed to them since birth, they throw that away and become bums, mean, NASTY bums, (no one in particular ;) but yeah, it just depends.
2007-07-18 09:02:48 · answer #3 · answered by karyzmatik87 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think personalities come partly from nature, partly from nurture. If your parents are brought up in a particular country, they will have picked up personality traits from the people around them - so maybe you'll have certain character traits if your parent or grandparent was from a different place - beyond that I don't think you will.
I reckon you'd probably have more in common with italian-americans than proper irish people. Just my opinion, and open to disagreements.
2007-07-18 08:53:29 · answer #4 · answered by Alex 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Which character traits would they be? Since Im an Aussie who born in Ireland, Im curious
Edit: You said it yourself you take after your Irish Relatives ... as I take after mine and you and I are as different as chalk and cheese. One thing we do have in common ... I take offence easily as well
2007-07-18 08:52:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋