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Some of us are just born more sociable than others, yes. That's just your innate personality, nature at work.
But socialization is also learned.
When a shy child is nurtured in the right way they too can become more comfortable socially.
Many times when a healthy child is not nurtured properly they grow up more socially awkward and have to work harder as adults to put themselves out there.
It's definitely both. However, bear in mind that even people who consider themselves antisocial are usually social as compared to truly antisocial animals. IOW, a serious shut-in at his or her computer still may be chatting in online forums, etc. A truly antisocial animal would jump for the jugular of another animal that tried to get to know it better.
But yes. Genetically we are programmed to be more or less social (by human standards), yet any trait can either be nurtured and brought out, or discouraged and toned down by the attitudes of people in one's environment, to an extent. But only to that extent...to the extent the person would have been genetically capable. (Sorry, "yet" and "but" together in a paragraph messes with the mind, but it's getting late and I'm just not up to par grammatically right now.)
I am very, very shy by nature (believe it or not) and I only really open up and have a lot of fun when I know and trust someone (but then I really let loose!). I don't believe that even given the best, most encouraging social environment, I would have turned out a true social butterfly in big groups of people. Just not me! My sister, OTOH, would talk to the wall if there were no people around. I'm pretty sure if you sewed her mouth shut, she'd just learn sign language instead. ETA: And if you tied her hands down too, she'd etch what she wanted to say into the linoleum with her toenails.
Some of us may think that we are naturally sociable, but are we?
Is it nature, or nurture, that got us there, or didn’t?
Do you think that some of us are genetically predisposed to not being social creatures?
Does modern living force, or expect us to be social, even if we are not by nature?
I believe we as humans are fickle creatures...
As far as Nature Vs. Nurture regarding socialization? I think NURTURE is the part that is bestowed by our parents to the best of their ability...
The oppurtunities to be social creatures from a very young age can definitely be provided by our parents...
They can enroll us in preschool, they can set up play dates, take us to parks, enroll us in dance, baseball...any of these things can be seen as nurture however if it is not a part of our "Individual" temperament or personality this will be the detemrining factor of success or failure..
Re: Nature...genetics, traits and so forth this can play a determining factor as well..
How many times have we heard...
"Little Jimmy reminds me of my brother, shy..I was never like this, I was homecoming king and his mom a cheer leader but he is socially awkward"
" Jenny is exactly like her grandma, so much of an extrovert, into clubs, sports, president of her debate team" "I was never like this, I was a wall flower"
Temperaments and traits are handed down much as eye color and hair color, some skip a generation sometimes 2...If I had to choose one of the 2 I would have to say Nature..
Some of us are just born more sociable than others, yes. That's just your innate personality, nature at work.
But socialization is also learned.
When a shy child is nurtured in the right way they too can become more comfortable socially.
Many times when a healthy child is not nurtured properly they grow up more socially awkward and have to work harder as adults to put themselves out there.
Agree. One can learn social skills, even if one is retiring or shy by nature.
One of the best ways to be comfortable - and gain the reputation as a warm, sociable person - is simply to learn how to ask a few questions and then be a good listener. People enjoy talking about what is on their minds, or sharing their stories (whatever the subject may be) . . . and so by being a good listener and attentive to what the speaker is saying . . . others respond in a positive way.
A person doesn't have to be the "life of the party" to be considered an enjoyable person to have in a group - or as a friend.
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