Unpacking the Intricacies of Human Nature from the Moment of Birth

At birth, I believe people are born to become or be anything they want to be. When trying to find supplemental information that agrees with my belief, I came across Tabula rasa which translates to "Blank Slate". The "Blank Slate" theory is that humans are born with no innate personality or behavior but rather learn their behaviors from their environment. Therefore, therapy focuses on unlearning unproductive or unhealthy behaviors. Behaviorists believe that behaviors occur due to classical and operant conditioning.

According to Lisa Fritscher (2022), Tabula rasa is a principle that underlies several different therapeutic techniques. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a therapeutic theory correlated to Tabula Rasa as it consists of developing new coping strategies, beliefs, and behaviors. This theory is very similar to environmental determinism which claims that factors such as upbringing, societal influences, and life events play a crucial role in molding a person's character and behavior.

These theories resonate with me as they suggest that individuals aren't inherently "good" or "bad" but rather a reflection of their surroundings and environment.

References

Fritscher, L. (2022, November 26). Why the psychology theory of Tabula Rasa you can unlearn bad behavior. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/blank-slate-definition-2671563

McLeod S. Behavioral Therapy. SimplyPsychology