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Freud believed that a person's basic character is formed by age 5 (Original Post) NNN0LHI May 2012 OP
+ Vincardog May 2012 #1
Half of it is formed before birth. cthulu2016 May 2012 #2
Yes, I do. sinkingfeeling May 2012 #3
Disagree LiberalFighter May 2012 #4
Same here. emilyg May 2012 #6
the Jesuits thought it was 7 cali May 2012 #5
Not exactly. I believe we are born with certain traits and characteristics, these can become more Happyhippychick May 2012 #7
I'd say the initial personality, I think it can be morphed via exposure before 12 uponit7771 May 2012 #8
Pretty Much, Sir The Magistrate May 2012 #9
Yes, Freud was generally right about that. Age gives perspective if not wisdom. slackmaster May 2012 #10
I prefer Jung's ideas. Odin2005 May 2012 #11
I agree with you. Jung's belief that we evolve over the whole lifetime newspeak May 2012 #14
I don't know. I'm 49 and I'm not sure I've formed a basic character yet. HopeHoops May 2012 #12
No, I do believe that's about the time people gain consciousness of self but I don't Uncle Joe May 2012 #13

cthulu2016

(10,960 posts)
2. Half of it is formed before birth.
Thu May 10, 2012, 12:46 PM
May 2012

Most of the rest is formed quite early.

But people's core personality can change in some important ways in later childhood and even (though very rarely) as adults. (Though not necessarily for the better... most deep later charge is probably trauma-induced.)

LiberalFighter

(50,787 posts)
4. Disagree
Thu May 10, 2012, 12:50 PM
May 2012

I am much different from my early childhood. I evolved throughout life as a result of my environment and opportunities.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
5. the Jesuits thought it was 7
Thu May 10, 2012, 12:53 PM
May 2012

no doubt early childhood plays a huge role in the development of a human being.

Happyhippychick

(8,379 posts)
7. Not exactly. I believe we are born with certain traits and characteristics, these can become more
Thu May 10, 2012, 12:56 PM
May 2012

or less prominent depending on our environment.

For example if you are born prone to anxiety, having a calm household can make you less anxious. And the reverse is true as well.

The Magistrate

(95,243 posts)
9. Pretty Much, Sir
Thu May 10, 2012, 01:01 PM
May 2012

Most apparent change is simply application in different fields and scopes; the same tune in different scales, so to speak....

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
10. Yes, Freud was generally right about that. Age gives perspective if not wisdom.
Thu May 10, 2012, 01:03 PM
May 2012

I've had the good fortune to have many long-term friendships and acquaintances in addition to watching several cousins and my brother grow up.

Odin2005

(53,521 posts)
11. I prefer Jung's ideas.
Thu May 10, 2012, 01:07 PM
May 2012

A person's character and personality evolve over the whole lifetime, though most people do not go from introverted to extroverted and vice-versa.

newspeak

(4,847 posts)
14. I agree with you. Jung's belief that we evolve over the whole lifetime
Thu May 10, 2012, 01:22 PM
May 2012

by the way, has anyone read about freud's initial theories about the oedipus complex? It seems freud spent time in france making observations in the cemetaries, of children who were killed. His initial findings found that there were many children who had been sexually assaulted. When he wrote his findings, his friend-a physician, influenced him not to print the findings because he would be castigated by the psychiatry community. He wound up coming up with the oedipus, electra complex. How children have sexual feelings for their parent; instead of how adults are preying on the innocent. In later years, the physician's son had approached freud and informed him his first thoughts were correct, since he had been sexually assaulted by his father, freud's friend who convinced him not to expose his initial findings.

He performed experiments, with the help of his friend, in sexual suppression-like cauterizing the membranes in the nose and other physical experiments. And, minimizing tales from patients of childhood sexual assault. If you think about it, telling a patient who had been sexually raped, that it was really a figment of their imagination, because they had a subconscious lust for his/her parent, probably caused even more damage to the patient.

 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
12. I don't know. I'm 49 and I'm not sure I've formed a basic character yet.
Thu May 10, 2012, 01:11 PM
May 2012

I'm leaning toward a cartoon character, but I haven't decided which one.

Uncle Joe

(58,296 posts)
13. No, I do believe that's about the time people gain consciousness of self but I don't
Thu May 10, 2012, 01:12 PM
May 2012

belief that self-identity is hard formed.

The brain isn't even fully developed into adolescence, life's minor lessons and major epiphanies have a cumulative effect that alters and molds our character.

Thanks for the thread, NNN0LHI.

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