What Makes Us Think and Do?

I find the irrational behavior of human beings quite perplexing. What forces come into play? Is it “Nature”, “Nurture, or the combination that shape our attitudes, opinions, and choices in our lives.
Here are some choices that come to mind:
• Do we see the world as abundant or scarce?
• How much does our education shape us?
• Do we feel only comfortable with people who are mostly like ourselves?
• Are new ideas and attitudes exciting or threatening?
• How is the influence and treatment by our parents come into play?
• If we have siblings, how do they influence who we are?
• As an American do you feel superior to other nationalities?
• Racially do feel superior to other races?
• If you practice your religion, is it the only true path to god?
• Do you feel men or women are superior to one another, in what ways if so?
• Would you rather be living today, or one hundred years ago and why?
• How does the event of growing up in a city or a small town effect us?
• Do we feel comfortable about our bodies, why yes or no?
• How was our relationship with our mother?
• How was our relationship with our father?
• Did we have the unique influence of a surrogate parent?
• Do we embrace change or find it threatening?
• How did our religious upbringing affect our present views of religion and our values?
• Did our mother have a comfortable or anxious pregnancy with us?
• Did we experience unconditional love and acceptance growing up?
• Do we enjoy other cultures or find them threatening?
• Do we have sex positive or sex negative attitudes?
• Did we have positive role models for relationships?
• Are we open and transparent about our sexual identity?
• Do we find vulnerability exciting or threatening?
• Do we like to hang onto traditions and/or superstitions, or find it more comfortable to shed them?
• Was your home violent or peaceful growing up ?
• If we are parents, how is our relationship with our children?
• When you were a child did the parent of the same sex hug you?
• Were you ever sexually violated by a relative or close friend?
• Did you feel that your gender identity is absolute, fluid, or androgynous?
• Do you believe that you are comfortable and skillful in conflict resolution without using physical violence?
• Do you feel that you have a difficult time being disciplined in achieving your goals?
• Do you believe that parents, teachers, doctors, clergyman, and governments always have our best interests in mind?
• Would you say you are an optimist or pessimist?
• Are you trusting or doubting?
• If you only had two choices, would you choose to have a doctor who has a great bed side manner and of average ability, or a doctor who has a cold personality and is a superior technician?
• Would you say that who you are today is mainly a factor of “Nature”, “Nurture”, both or mainly your own determination?
• Do you feel that you are mainly a victim of your surroundings, or that you are mainly the architect of your surroundings?