Have You Always Been You?

[Emher]

No. When I was a small kid I was hyper and at odds with that abit introvert at times, with bullying in grade school came more of the introvertness and shyness. And now I've finally started shedding the introvert bit almost entirely and getting a bit of the hyperness back.

So thankfully, no, I have not always been me. I seek to better myself all the time.

 

[Holdfast]

I guess I just don't see what a theory of personality ADDS to behaviorism.

...

This is an interesting discussion by the way, thank you. I might write a bit more about it on my blog at some point.

I did eventually end up expanding/clarifying my previous post upthread, on my blog. It would be great to hear what you think about it, either here or there.

 

[Captain_Nick]

No, I'm a new and better version of me, constantly evolving and improving.

ditto

 

[T'Mar]

I guess I just don't see what a theory of personality ADDS to behaviorism.

...

This is an interesting discussion by the way, thank you. I might write a bit more about it on my blog at some point.

I did eventually end up expanding/clarifying my previous post upthread, on my blog. It would be great to hear what you think about it, either here or there.

I had a feeling your blog would be "why behaviorism isn't good enough" . I actually have a couple responses to your previous post, but it's fairly long and I've been running around like a headless chicken all weekend, so I haven't had time.

Short answer: It almost seems like your description of practical behaviorism (that is, behaviorism as it is actually used in therapy or behavior plans, not the abstract theoretical ideal behaviorism) is waaaaaaay more complicated with tons more steps than I actually use. If I had to do behaviorism that way, damn straight it would be really long and complex and would need a cognitive shortcut. But it's not typically how I see and how I use behaviorism in the therapy room.

I'll expand on this later -- right now I'm just trying to plunk out a few more pages of my thesis before my supervisor blows a gasket.

 

[Niorah]

I like to think that I have been improving steadily since the day of my birth, but the truth is that at the core I am and always will be the same. I was an "old soul" child, I was an "old soul" teenager, now I am an "old soul" adult.
I guess maybe I'm still in time to be an infantile senile, at least.

Other things have changed during my life: my outlook on things, how I cope, how I act and react, and I have in fact learned a lot about humanity, both my own and other's, and I'm still learning and fine tuning.
But at the end of the day, just like Holdfast, I'm your typical INTJ, but with just a touch of spice.

 

[Tan Ru]

As a male, don't you (we) just turn into cranky old men anyway?

So yeah, that's a change...

 

[TheBrew]

I was saving up to buy a new personality, but I invested in bonds instead.

Smart move.

Yep. Gets more interest.

I am pretty much the same goofy person, but also more out going and more of leader. I know how to take charge of a situation and lead instead of just following, which I didn't do in HS. Of course, I am also still completely okay with just following.

 

[RandyS]

As a male, don't you (we) just turn into cranky old men anyway?

So yeah, that's a change...

I dunno, I was a cranky old man by the time I was five.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Of course, I am also still completely okay with just following.

Good to know, I hope you join a suicidal cult.

 

[sidious618]

Of course, I am also still completely okay with just following.

Good to know, I hope you join a suicidal cult.

WTF?

 

[RoJoHen]

Of course, I am also still completely okay with just following.

Good to know, I hope you join a suicidal cult.

Man, you're on a role today. Trying to get banned?

 

[doubleohfive]

What about the hard drive? The volume.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Of course, I am also still completely okay with just following.

Good to know, I hope you join a suicidal cult.

So you really thought it would be a good idea to sit down, compose this post and click Submit, huh?

Warning for Trolling. Comments to PM.

 

[Captain Ice]

Damnit RJD, you beat me to it.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Oops.

 

[MetalPants]

As a child, I would say that I was fairly extroverted, but I dunno, around age 10 it's like a switch got flipped and I became intensely introverted. It is almost painful to be around people that I don't know, because of the shyness and social awkwardness.

 

[Lord Garth]

I think we all have fundamental, bedrock personalities we adapt according to our experiences and responsibilities. You don't know how you're going to react to something until you're actually in that situation.

I didn't have to deal with anything I'm dealing with right now 10 years ago. It might seem to me as if I haven't always been the way I am now but maybe it's how I really was all along and didn't have the right opportunity to find out until later.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

No, I'm a new and better version of me, constantly evolving and improving.

I love you!

As a teenager, I was shy and introverted and spent a lot of time building model spaceships and jerking off.

I haven't changed a bit.

And you!

I wasn't always me. I was the President of Nigeria before. I don't know if this me is a step up or not ...

And you!

[wet blanket: on] As a psychologist, I have seen little evidence to prove the "personality" as we call it, is an actual construct that can accurately predict human behavior. Environment, context and learning history seem to be far better predictors of human behavior. (Even personality researchers will admit that their ability to predict and influence behavior from the data they collect is almost nil, and it's very very frustrating to them)

Why yes, I am being condescending, overbearing, and nearly incomprehensible. As a grad student, it's the only thing I have. Are you really going to take it away from me?

[replaces wet blanket with dry, clean, fluffy lavender scented blanket] Variety is the spice of life.

And you!

As a male, don't you (we) just turn into cranky old men anyway?

So yeah, that's a change...

I dunno, I was a cranky old man by the time I was five.

And of course, YOU!

God you guys make me laugh!

I'm pretty much the same person as i always was. I've always been very emotional, still am. Only now that i'm almost into the AARP age range (gah!) i find i care a bit less about what other people think and am more comfortable in my own skin. That's not to say i don't have curl up in a ball and rock moments. I still have them for sure. Just less of them.

 

[RAMA]

There's a central "core" of myself that has probably always been there, but I'm not recognizably the same person as myself from childhood, or teens....or even my twentes.