It comes across as exceedingly condescending to assume that because someone's opinion differs from yours, they don't understand, or have at least considered, the subject matter with which that opinion is concerned. I don't appreciate that but I'll do my best to not let it affect my response.
Here's a
post from my blog showing that I have thought about this. In summary it is through repetition of specific responses that habits are formed, where "responses" are either emotional reactions to certain stimulus, as well as the actions those emotions prompt.
However, not only does repetition
create the neural structures which represent habits, but it can also
change those structures, thus changing the habit. It is not easy to do, but through willful determination and/or strong emotional motivation, those habits can be changed.
Now I'll admit I haven't studied cognitive neuroscience, nor psychology, nor psychophysiology, so all I know had been learned from what I've read, and from discussions with more knowledgeable people. If I'm wrong please clearly show me how.
Quote:
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No, we don't have the ability to choose, you think you have the ability to choose, but you don't. ... you think they choose to be that way?? yes they made some choices, but this is not clear choices, they were not thinking , felling the same thing as you when they were making their choices...
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You first say that we can't choose, then you say we make choices. Could you explain what you mean in a way that doesn't involve contradictions?
You seem to assume that someone's past dictates their future by denying them free will because of learned behaviours. Have you considered how those responses are initially learned? If an individual can be born with nothing but instinct, then through the teaching imparted by life experience, gradually develop specific responses, doesn't it seem reasonable to believe that those individuals can continue to learn and develop in different ways? I.e., by choosing where you direct your conscious attention your can change your habits. A lifetime of layered, interdependent habits can make it
difficult to make a choice which defies those habits, but as long as you can direct your awareness,
you can choose.
You mentioned Tony Robbins, and his ability to make people believe they can choose. If they then make a change because of their belief in their ability to choose to do so, how is that any different from the ability to choose. The proof in the ability to choose is in the fact that they
made a choice.
Finally, while what I know about the way neural structures are formed is mainly concerned with habits, I think it's reasonable to believe that the same applies to personality traits.