More Alike Than You Think

By Avery Lenz

As we all know, a big part of us as a whole comes from our parents. Biologically, our personalities, our likes and dislikes are all influenced by our parents in one way or another. Whether you like a certain TV show because you and your mom watched it as a kid, or you refuse to drink because your dad was an alcoholic, our parents influence our lives so much more than one might think on the surface. 

For example, genetically, it has been recently discovered that the mother's genetic makeup can heavily influence a child's predisposition to schizophrenia. In this study, 16 individual DNA sites that could lead to this disorder were linked back to the mother. This is a different approach from previous studies that cited environmental and trauma responses to be the main factors in the development of schizophrenia. This isn't the only mental health disorder that has genetic components linked to the predisposition of said disorder, however. Anxiety (GPD), depression (MDD), bipolar, and attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) all have strong genetic links in the likelihood of an individual developing these disorders. This is especially important to individuals, even those here at Peotone, who think they might be struggling with a mental disorder. Knowing the origin of such disorders can bring peace of mind to one who is struggling with understanding why they are the one with a disorder such as the ones stated above, as well as knowing the genetic aspects of the symptoms makes treatment of such symptoms much easier to treat medically and therapeutically. 

On a lighter note, and perhaps more obviously, your parents' genetics play a major role in your physical appearance as well. You can even determine the likeness of your offspring's looks with your partner by using punnant squares! Looking around Peotone, have you ever thought ¨Wow, s/he looks just like their mom,¨ genetics is why. 

Your parents' personalities also play major roles in how you develop as a person. For example, children with parents who are more timid and reserved are more likely to grow up and develop these tendencies as a result of their parents' behaviors that they have observed throughout their childhood. This tendency for children to mimic how their parents behave in a way can be both a blessing and a curse. About one-third of children who were abused during their childhood will become abusers, according to research. This is known as the cycle of violence in clinical terms. Not to mention, children of addicts are four to eight times more likely to become addicts themselves.  Opposingly, children who are born to natural leaders inherently learn through the environment they are surrounded by to become leaders as well. This is known as adaptive behavior. 

Lastly, believe it or not, our likes and dislikes when it comes to food, decorations, organization, and cleanliness largely in part come from our parents and how they feel about the subject. This particular phenomenon is called social influence. Social influence can cause many problems for individuals, especially pertaining to food, as this can lead to food aversion. This, like the above situations, can also become a positive thing, however. Say your parents like to eat whole foods and usually stay away from processed junk foods. You, as the child, seeing this like for whole foods, and disgust for processed foods, are likely to inherit this same way of thinking, leading you to a healthier lifestyle. 

Though we know so much about genetics, the effects of our environments in which we live, and possible implications of personality types stemming from parental figures already, science is forever evolving, meaning years from now, we will possibly be even more influenced by how our parents are genetically made up and behave in day-to-day life. As you go about your everyday life, I urge you to be critical as to why you do things the way you do and why you like the things you like. You might be more like your parents than you originally thought, whether you want to be or not.

DISCLAIMER: Every individual is different, meaning the statistics and research above are generalized and may or may not apply to your own personal situation.