Why is it many people act like they think for themselves, but believe exactly what their parents taught them?
402965
I've always thought that those who are raised in wholesome caring environments where the parents are people to be admired, most likely would not rethink too seriously about adopting/sharing their parents belief systems. It seems family conflict and perceived parental flaws lead children to search for something better, something which makes sense to them and in turn assists them to create a separate identify from their parents. Although these young people would consider their childhoods less than enjoyable they in most cases make the most interesting adults. The road is long and hard and imbued with heartache but ultimately a new proud identify is formed. But even if your parents were to be admired and you see no reason to not follow their beliefs, life's hiccups come to all and through adversity we are all challenged to change and grow - if for no better reason than to cope with the current crisis. Thats life. So you are never too young to learn to re-evaluate or analyse your basic beliefs. Nobody but nobody stays static.
1052400
It's all about personalities. Some do the right thing and their happy with it. Others don't, and they're happy with that. some are raised to do the right thing no matter what, others aren't. It's all about conciences too; some do the right thing, but don't reap any benefits from it, so they do wrong and life seems better, others do the opposite, and some just can't catch a break no matter what they do.
1081382
Maybe because they have no illusions. they see themselves as they ARE, those around them as THEY are, or the WORLD as it is. For rational people it is hard to find comfort in the way the world is today, though it is best to accept what is and do the best one can. No?
498590
Because society has taught (slowly)and accepted over the years that everything else made someone do something because of either someone else or something else. Never taking responsiblity for their own actions. I drive a school bus and have come across MANY,MANY mother's who refuse to accept that their child misbehaved in any way shape or form. You can tell them that their son/daughter threw a book, hit the other kid, tripped them etc, etc and you tell the Mom at the bus stop and they look you in the eye and say, "Well, the other kid must have done something for my child to hit, trip, push the other kid" OR, she/he is tired, was not feeling well etc.I would say 90% of the hundreds of different kids I have come across over the past years fall into the catagory of "it's not my fault" Then the other 10%, the parents will say " I don't care what reason you did that, it was wrong". So, with a good majority of kids being raised with "it's not my fault", they grown into adults, have children and wa-la, we have the Not My Fault Generation.
956165
People find comfort in believing others are like them. They created a "normal" way of acting outwardly but inside everyone is still unique. (being different isn't the bad thing though, lying to yourself to "fit in" is)
1083498
I trust people to act in the way that they show me they do.  I learned I can't trust anyone to act the way I want them to.  But why should I be able to, they're not me and they have different goals, and different reasoning than I do.  But I can usually trust them to act in the ways that I have observed them acting in the past.   And I take a while to get to know someone before I decide what I think of them.\nSo I only trust myself in one respect, but I trust everyone in another.
562718
beacsue people need to believe in somthing or they begin to fall apart emotionally. and somtime i think that after their parents introduce them to a belief they learn it and like it and it's somthing that is constant. somthingg they can hold on to.
355932
Of course not. But children like, to some extend, copy the behavior of their parents.Parents must be a good role model for their children.
762882
They somehow believe that children spend the most time with their parents or with people that their parents would otherwise disapprove of, but given that their parents have "no personal assertiveness" or are working long hours in difficult and unpleasant jobs they have no time to see what their kids are up to and hence from whom they are receiving their bad influence. Society also assumes that bad parents are a bad influence on their children, whom it is assumed spend all day watching and learning bad habits from mum and dad. I think offspring in any situation get to compare their own parents with other people's families. Every family is dysfunctional in some way. It doesn't matter how you start out, as long as you finish the right way.
469907
its supposed to make them think for themselves.
432844
People believe what they are told to believe as children. If it makes no sense, they still will believe it, if it is pounded into them long enough.\n\nThe smarts ones evolve.
804728
Children are like a blank slate when they are born.  As a concerned and involved mother (and a social worker), I realized that my daughter would get "tapes" in her head from somewhere....and I decided that I would put tapes in there first!  \n\nI have been diligent in teaching her that "Good choices give you a good life; bad choices give you a bad life," and then illustrating that through actions.  Each time a situation arises, I see it as a learning experience. \n\nMy daughter is now 16 and just realizing how powerful it has been to have a mom who cares so much.  She is abroad as an exchange student and is now instant messaging me about the "dysfunctional" family in her new country.  She is learning that the things I have taught her (the tapes) from the beginning are now making sense.\n\nI do believe that we imprint our children.  In many ways we leave our lessons with them.  So, I think that we guide our children into observing and learning certain ways; THEN I think that the child formulates their own opinions.  But it is our job to guide them, to give them information to make good decisions, and to be there to help them through problems.\n\nSo, essentially, I do believe that parents and "superiors," do put things into kids' minds.  However....each person is an individual, and we each have our own personalities.  Therefore, the messages (or tapes) we get from our parents/superiors blend into our own personal experiences and individual (DNA..if you must label it) personalities.\n\nThe combination of what we learn from others and our own unique blend of personality makes us what we are.
1044063
As an adult who was recently a child, I can sympathize with parents thinking that they understand what's going on in their child's head (my mother still thinks that), and with parents making decisions that don't seem right, and sometimes aren't. Parents are people and make mistakes, however, you should stop to consider that you'd be much worse off without them. They might make decisions that cause you to miss out on things, and they might make you do things that you don't like, but they are older and wiser, and can make more informed decisions. This does not mean that they will always be right, and if you think they are wrong, you shouldn't be afraid to discuss it with them. However, screaming or throwing a fit would only show that you aren't mature enough to make very many decisions for yourself. You should have a say in what you want to do, and I'm almost positive that, if you think about it, you do. Also, if you gracefully accept some things your parents say that you don't agree with, they're more likely to let you make more decisions, or at least more heavily weigh your opinion.
240823
It's all about ones self image. The ones who want to rule the world it is because of their ego. The ones who live and let live are content with themselves.
1086389
That's hard to answer.\n\nI grew up thinking that I did the thinking for my family.  And I was allowed to make more decisions than any child should make.  But as an adult, I can see that I was manipulated.  I was in charge because others abdicated their responsibilities.  It wasn't my idea, and it was largely reactive.\n\nI did hold up my science class asking questions about evolution.  I guess there are some who would argue that I let church think for me, but I realized that what I had been taught was not going to help me argue in science class.  I learned everything I could from other books.  My biology teacher, bless his heart, would tell you I have a mind of my own.  I gave all the required answers on the final, wrote an essay on the back about why I disagreed with all my answers on the front, and passed with an "A" and a clean conscience.\n\nDo I ever take someone else's word for something?  Sure.  Do I have preconceived ideas as a result of my upbringing and influences?  Probably.  But I am responsible for what I believe.  So it behooves me to know what I believe and why I believe it to the best of my ability.
363257
they think they can tell how a person is by just looking at them. I've misjudged people many times only to find out that they're really good people. Eventually, I stopped doing that because judging someone usually ends up to be wrong.
237147
No.  I was taught to behave myself, but at the same I was taught to think for myself.  For a good society people need act in a way that is conducive for each of us respecting each others rights.  If we think that we can do what we want without thinking of our fellow man then we might as well throw the key in the water bucket and ride off.  \n\nWe are going to have an anarchy if children aren't taught morals, or how to treat others with respect.