Nature vs. Nurture is Back

One of the oldest debates in psychology is the question of Nature versus Nurture; whether we are the way we are by the influence of nature - our genetics and such - or because of nurture - our social environment and upbringing. The tide of public opinion has shifted to and fro every now and again but lately it seems as though the common opinion has settled (for now) somewhere in the middle, suggesting that we are the way we are by a highly complex cocktail of centuries of genetic influence, which is itself influenced by and influential on one's individual psychology, and social influence. A recent report published by The Journal of the American Medical Association ("JAMA") has landed a pretty important blow on the discussion.

The report, titled Transmission of Mental Disorders in Adolescent Peer Networks south to examine whether having classmates with a mental disorder diagnosis is associated with later risk of being similarly diagnosed. The study followed a sample size of 713,089 adolescents. What the study found was that having 1 diagnosed classmate resulted in a 5% increase in the likelihood of later diagnosis among the remaining classmates. When the cohort was followed up with 1 year later, the diagnosis risk increased to 9% with 1 diagnosed classmate, and 18% with more than 1 classmate.

The study did not take into account the relationships between classmates, so it is unclear if there were any other relational factors that may have contributed. Nevertheless, one thing is clear - who we surround ourselves with, which is not always up to us, is important.

There is a concept in psychology known as "Social contagion," which is the spread of attitudes, behaviors, feelings, beliefs, etc. from one member of a group to another. Studies have shown that suicide has a high risk of social contagion (known specifically as "Suicide contagion"), as do eating disorders among adolescents.

Let's take a brief detour into the realm of philosophy. The polymath Rene Girard pioneered the concept of "Memetic Desire," which is the idea that one person desires something because someone else desires or possesses it. The whole of advertising and marketing is built upon this basic premise: someone beautiful and famous has something, so I want it too that I may be beautiful like them.

Does this sound familiar? It should, because it is just another form of social contagion. The thing with memetic desire, however, is that it needn't be a famous person that makes the product desirable, nor does it even need to be a product. Our beliefs, our values, ethics, ambitions, goals, even our tastes in something as seemingly personal as food can all be determined or at least influences by what our friends, family, and peers like.

Wrapping this all up before it turns into it's own thing, this study underscores a few very important points:

1. Who you surround yourself with is vitally important. The old adage, "You are the company you keep" rings bright and true here. Again, we do not always get to choose our company, as in the case of family, grade school, or the workplace. We do, however, get to choose our friends. Choosing friends who will build us up, and whom we can build up in return - not projects, but partners - will make a huge difference in one's quality of life not only in the short term, but the long term as well.

2. Choosing friends who align with your values, which means knowing what your values actually are. Some values are essentially universal - do no harm to others, be honest, etc. - but what about charity? Or accountability? Or wisdom? Or diligence? Those are values as well, as are many, many others that rarely get thought about or discussed, and knowing what role they play (or don't play) in your life will help you to choose the people, the activities, and the pursuits that are most likely to help you live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

All of this is to say, in the question of Nature vs. Nurture, it very much seems like the latter plays a particular role in cultivating our individual being. There is absolutely a genetic component to most mental health issues. Some are born with a predisposition towards depression, or anxiety, or anger. This is not the place to get into the neurological underpinnings of mental health issues. However, as the study linked above, as well as the larger body of published research suggests - to say nothing of our own anecdotal evidence - mental health, as well as it's lack, can be transmitted socially. You can experience depression by proximity, not because you are necessarily depressed, but rather because your pattern of thought has been altered by external forces.

The good news is that this can be reversed. It can be untangled. You do not have to live with this experience. If you would like to know more, feel free to reach out to Keyhole Counseling to schedule a session or a consult to see if counseling is right for you.