OT : A psychosocial question

[Fyron]

Of course. Genetics plays a roll in instinct, but part of the development of higher animal intelligence is learning to override instinct.

[Caduceus]

Why do people seem to have a need to frequently revisit old emotional scars?

It is part of being human. Learning to cope with past psychological trauma is important to facing possible future similar trauma.

This brings up another question: Does experience shape an individual's personality more so than genetics?

As a clinician, I can say that both are equally important. I see the same cycle repeated for generations (self-abuse through alchohol, etc.). And then there are those that "end the cycle" - go to college, etc. Life it what you put into it. A three year-old dying of cancer is often wiser than a sixty year-old with lung disease.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

My simple answer is 'Because they hurt!'

[Atrocities]

Imperator Fyron said:
Of course. Genetics plays a roll in instinct, but part of the development of higher animal intelligence is learning to override instinct.

Your assuming however that the genetics have evolved enough to allow for development of higher animal intelligence. I met many poeple, some related to me, that act more on animal instinct with blatent disregard for intelligence. They act more like 13 and 14 year olds with the demonstrated IQ of a 5 or 6 year old. Genetics does play a part here in that genetically they are low brow morons who are too ill equiped mentally to understand the concept of learning to act based upon intelligence rather than instinct.

[Xrati]

'Old habits are hard to break.' There's a lot to be said about "old sayings." Our habits, over time, become daily routine. Human nature is always to take the easy way out. It's hard to deal with problems, it's easier to let them go and continue to be plagued by them.

[capnq]

I have read that repeated experiences "optimize" the sections of the brain that deals with them. If you have a lot more negative experiences than positive ones, your brain will get better at processing the negatives.

I often find that my negative memories spring up almost unbidden, but positive memories take more conscious effort to retrieve.

[Phoenix-D]

I suspect we're wired to remenber negative events better. Remebering that "hey, I ate that berry and got sick!" is more 'productive' from a survival standpoint than "Oo, that flower's pretty."

[Raapys]

I think we like bringing forth (old) emotional pain in certain moods and situations. Self-pity can feel very good and comforting, and an experience of pain can push your current problems and situation into the background, thereby making them appear less important or inconsequential.

[Atrocities]

Music and lack of sleep, not to mention drugs, alcohol and some foods might bring about an unexpected upsurge of long forgotten, or well hidden emotional pain.

[Renegade 13]

Hmmm...up here, we don't get a 21.4% refund rate for aluminum cans.