Beliefs and needs
Beliefs and needs are some of the most influential factors that govern the behavior of an individual. When one is born, the brain is often not fully developed. As such, they are always ready to gather information from the environment and form beliefs based on the collected information. People then act in ways that are consistent with their belief system. The beliefs then play an influential role in the way one behaves and how they build character and personality. This implies that the experiences that one gets as a child are responsible for developing their beliefs, and may last for the rest of their lives.
According to Albert Bandura’s Social Learning theory, a child gets new behaviors by observing and imitating the people around them. This process is both cognitive and social and can take place even without any reinforcement. They also learn through observation the aspects of rewards and punishments. Therefore, if they see that a particular behavior is often punished, they are likely to desist from it. This learning process is what forms their belief systems.
What children learn as they are young is likely to affect what they become. For example, an individual who grows up in a family that is caring and loving and supportive is likely to be able to form strong bonds of friendship and be satisfied in their relationships when they grow up. On the other hand, one who grows up in a family of violence and drugs are likely to become violent and delinquent in adulthood. This is mainly because their experiences as children shaped their belief systems that make them act in a particular way. In this light, it is evident that one’s experiences as a child linger and build a character that goes into adulthood.