By Jesse Omoregie, Manchester, UK
The questions are, why do people behave in certain ways in reaction to specific stimulus? Is it societal influence? Is it genetics or heredity? Or do people simply learn behaviour? What about neurotransmitters; are they responsible? These 4 possible answers have been argued by psychologists and sociologists over the years as predictors of behviour. A common explanation by modern researchers is that, a combination of the aforementioned factors may contribute towards behaviour. If social influence perspective to behaviour is true, then what influences the behaviour of the society or the person or group that causes the influence? could it be heredity? If it is, what affects heredity? – In his book, ‘Freewill’, Jesse Omoregie (2015) argued that, if a certain behaviour persists for too long, it becomes imprinted in the gene. This suggests that society could determine certain genetic behaviour, usually over a long period of time. This is a circular situation from societal influence to heredity and heredity to social.
It is argued by social learning theorists that people simply learn behaviour. Where do they learn behaviour from? Through social relationships of-course? What about neurotransmitters-role in influencing behaviour? It is known that some certain neurotransmitters are responsible for certain moods or behaviour, which suggests that, like the society, the effect of neurotransmitters can impact on an individual’s behavioural pattern. That results to the circle of societal influence, heredity, social learning, and neurotransmitters. Until the extent or degree to which they all contribute towards behaviour is understood, all that needs doing is either to wait or to do something to get a clearer picture of the concept in order for society to shape her behaviour. Oh oh oh, this is a moment of insight; shaping behaviour is all about learning, isn’t it? That’s it, learning; we learn behaviour. Learning is what we do.
Matters of Behaviour 