Have you ever thought that when a child continuously gets told that he/she is bad, that they will probably turn out that way because they have been constantly told so???
And, I'm sure that when a young person gets told that 'they'll never amount to anything' (I'm sure we've all heard that one...) they, in their frustration, don't even strive to prove you wrong because they just give up..
I'm sure that there are many other cliché's that apply here, and they have ingrained themselves so much that there is no self-respect left.
Most men I've met in life got influenced in early age, pertaining to their sexual behavior, to their choice in career, family, etc. They have role-models that influence them one way or the other.
We all are not born with a set pattern all our lives. We get influenced through our personal experiences and through the guidance during the impressionable years in life. Some of us are weak and others strong enough to sive out what's later revealed to not be the right way of things.
But, in the end, it's what we learn and how we apply it that determines what life we lead.
There is a book that I read a long time ago, called
"Me, Myself and I", I don't remember who it was written by and wish I still had it. It explains that there are essentially three individuals within, the child, the adolescent, and the adult. Depending on the given circumstance, the appropriate one will (should) take over and this will determine our reaction to things in life. Needless to say, it also depends on how these were influenced and nurtured.
Too bad that when I was growing up, children were still spanked and/or beaten. Now it's against the law in most countries to do this. So, if you can figure out what makes a person tick the way they do in a post on a thread, please write a book and get rich, while we gain in knowledge -
no offense meant here - please don't take it the wrong way.
Gosh, I wish it were all so easy - that way I would not need a therapist myself in times of stress - but I'm human and it happens.
It's
ironic how after writing a long post, the only one that was singled out was the short post afterward that just wanted to make a point on how negative influence can generate negative actions/reactions.
Hope this made more sense.
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My hopes and best wishes to all.