<div class="text-justify">

The summation of this topic lies in the interplay between nature (genetics) and nurture (environment). Kurt Lewin once said: “Human behaviour is a function of hereditary and environmental factors”. That is: B = f(P, E),  where:B = behavior, P = person (including hereditary traits), E = environment. The idea is that human behaviour results from both hereditary (genetic) factors and environmental (situational, social, and cultural) factors. 


The hereditary or genetic factors are traits. It refers to inherited characteristics passed from parents to offspring or consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that a person displays across time and situations.  As human beings, we are born with some traits (good or bad). Some of the good traits are: Empathy, honesty, integrity, kindness, respectfulness, responsibility, generosity, humility, forgiveness, fairness among others. On the other hand, a few of the bad traits are: dishonesty, selfishness, cruelty, arrogance, manipulativeness, irresponsibility, disrespect, greed, vindictiveness, and prejudice. 


![BeautyPlus_20250122042406088_save.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/flourishandflora/23wCEJYJsRCt6opfW5xSUMm1J2GtKpceSe2M4WQSrSjks7Ryi9Gqxwtbfn2934o56AoSB.jpg)

The environment plays a significant role in shaping these traits through learning (formal, informal, or non-formal), which occurs from birth to death. This implies that genetics provides the basic blueprint, while the environment in which people reside and also learn influences how these traits develop and how people express these traits throughout their lifespan.  

At this point, it is right to respond to this question: “Is there a blueprint for how not to have a bad child”? There is no blueprint on how not to have a bad child since the child will live, learn, and socialize in the environment he or she finds himself or herself. Moreover, the more the child lives, the more he or she learns (more about good or bad traits). 

Hence, despite being born with good traits, the environment through learning has a powerful influence on an individual’s character and can help in modifying behaviour negatively as well as positively. Another question arises on how to make sure your child is a good person.  In this regard, there is a saying: “A good education begins at home as you can not blame a school for not nurturing values in your child that you have not instilled”. 

The point here is that parents should instill good values in their children as charity begins from home. A Chinese proverb says: “What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand". Parents should practice love, kindness, and be responsible at home which can serve as a good basis for their wards. Also, parents should model the behaviour they want to see in their wards. Children absorb how you treat others. Furthermore, parents should praise character, not just achievement. 

Finally, a quote says: “Show me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are. Hence. Parents should endeavour to prevent negative environmental influence and peer influence on their children. **Remember, A lion cannot give birth to a goat as an offspring like they say👍**


This post is in response to the #hivelearners community on the 3rd edition prompt on the topic: **Human Traits**

The Image is mine.

</div>