Pensée 41

Upon the topic of personalities and character traits. We have come to the conclusion that a certain state of "Tabula rasa" exists. That we are essentially blank slates. we are not only influenced by nurture but by society as we age and mature. We are in essence the embodiment of every characteristic and personality trait. these are then expressed or suppressed, either consciously or unconsciously. By unconscious suppression it is to be understood that this phenomenon is not actively controlled by the person, instead by exposure to long term or short term factors that cause a fundamental change in behavior. An example of a short term outside influence is fear. Fear breeds savagery in even the most upright and "civilized".
    Fear brings us in an instant back to the most basic of thought processes and with it of reactions. Fear, whether real or perceived will cause one and all to revert to our core instincts, to save one's self , regardless of how that might affect one's community. Historical examples include any and all informants to a corrupt government or anyone who sells someone else out for their own safety. Fear of the unknown and or new and different things as well as perceived threats are also factors as shown in the Witch-Hunts of centuries past as well as the Anti-Communist hunts and propaganda in the United States during the 1950's.
    An example of a prolonged exposure tendency is found most simply in one's social surroundings if one spends prolonged periods of time in the company of those more inclined to frequently use expletives in their speech, one will find one's self using more expletives more often. Alternatively if one keeps company with those less inclined towards profanity one too will also adapt to their mode of speech.
    All of one's characteristics could be then consciously altered by ones recognition of the specific characteristic or tendency and the sheer will power and determination to alter it.

As discussed and formulated with LSH in April 2012