Do you think that people are born Evil or is it learnt?

[Northern Lass]

Watching the news ...

And it got me wondering
are we enviromentally or biologically determined?

Nurture or Nature

As we all have different colour hair, different builds etc etc , so I think we have different personalities
that I believe we are born with, although we learn social "behaviour" I believe deep down our very being is imprinted from day one.
I honestly believe that some people are just born evil.

what do you think?

[Rob]

This is an interesting topic Northern Lassie not many responses though are there?
Are people born evil? I don't think so.I personally think it has to do with experiences in life.Bad childhood.Abusive parents.
Then again there is a theory that it has to do with genes.A difficult one this.I'll give it some more thought and may be get back to you.
Anyone else?

[dianel]

I'm inclined more to the "Nature" side of the discussion. But I think that some of the things that influence us might be very insignificant to anyone else - Just come at a particular time and have a certain meaning to us. That said, I still think each of us has a choice of how to behave and most do know right from wrong. I think our present society lets people off too much from taking responsibility for their actions.

[mallosa]

I think it's all to do with being taught respect for others from an early age.
Of course this works both ways, if others don't show respect for us that may change our whole way of thinking

[BC Wench]

My thoughts are that we are not born good or evil, it's the way we are brought up and our experiences later in life as to which way we sway. My mother-in-law is a devout Christian and I remember her saying years ago when our child was born that children are born evil and they have to be taught how to be good.

If you imagine a toddler in a supermarket, if he/she picks up a chocolate bar and starts eating it, that child doesn't know that it's a naughty thing to do, because he/she doesn't know that it has to be paid for first. Okay, my example isn't “evil” just “naughty” but until that child is told, he/she doesn't know, so that's where “parental guidance” kicks in.

[Northern Lass]

I think you can chuck all the niceties at folk and they will lap it up
but if they are of that mind then that is it!
All the advantages, best parents and love don't stop monsters being churned out!