Dandelions and Orchids, or The Science of Success

[Guest guest]

Here's yet another fascinating article about the concept that our inborn

resilience or hardiness factor is what allows some of us to emerge relatively

unscathed from an abusive childhood, similarly to the way that a dandelion can

sometimes germinate in the crack of a sidewalk, and is able to live on the bare

minimum of food and water it happens to find there, enough to successfully

reproduce... whereas the more fragile and sensitive " orchid " type of individual

needs a more controlled environment and more care to thrive but can produce

spectacular blooms when its needs are met.

This article includes a short film regarding nature vs nurture in primate

studies. Absolutely fascinating observations made generation after generation

RE two factors: (a) maternal nurturing or non-nurturing paired with ( the

innate fearfulness or fearlessness of the offspring. Results are consistently

predictable RE the outcome or status/ " success " as an adult primate. (Wow!)

Here's the link:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/12/the-science-of-success/7761/

-Annie

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing this I agree: fascinating stuff.

I found it very interesting that " orchid alleles " are actually neutral to

potentially superior from a pure nature standpoint and that it is nurture that

determines whether or not they will manifest as a negative or a positive.More

evidence of how our environment shapes us for good or ill and how much our

" fate " --and by extension really the " fate " of the collective-- rests in the

loving (or unloving) hands of our caregivers.

>

> Here's yet another fascinating article about the concept that our inborn

resilience or hardiness factor is what allows some of us to emerge relatively

unscathed from an abusive childhood, similarly to the way that a dandelion can

sometimes germinate in the crack of a sidewalk, and is able to live on the bare

minimum of food and water it happens to find there, enough to successfully

reproduce... whereas the more fragile and sensitive " orchid " type of individual

needs a more controlled environment and more care to thrive but can produce

spectacular blooms when its needs are met.

>

> This article includes a short film regarding nature vs nurture in primate

studies. Absolutely fascinating observations made generation after generation

RE two factors: (a) maternal nurturing or non-nurturing paired with ( the

innate fearfulness or fearlessness of the offspring. Results are consistently

predictable RE the outcome or status/ " success " as an adult primate. (Wow!)

>

> Here's the link:

>

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/12/the-science-of-success/7761/

>

> -Annie

>

[Guest guest]

Yes!

It really is a interplay between the inborn temperament of the infant and the

quality and amount of mothering the infant receives, with the monkey research

studies, it would seem. And probably with humans too.

-Annie

>

> Thanks for sharing this I agree: fascinating stuff.

>

> I found it very interesting that " orchid alleles " are actually neutral

to potentially superior from a pure nature standpoint and that it is nurture

that determines whether or not they will manifest as a negative or a

positive.More evidence of how our environment shapes us for good or ill and how

much our " fate " --and by extension really the " fate " of the collective-- rests in

the loving (or unloving) hands of our caregivers.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure but I bet I have the short/short allele for depression and if my

nada had been a mother instead and had *loved* me I think that the despairs I've

suffered would have been creative depth more than simple unproductive pain!

> >

> > Thanks for sharing this I agree: fascinating stuff.

> >

> > I found it very interesting that " orchid alleles " are actually

neutral to potentially superior from a pure nature standpoint and that it is

nurture that determines whether or not they will manifest as a negative or a

positive.More evidence of how our environment shapes us for good or ill and how

much our " fate " --and by extension really the " fate " of the collective-- rests in

the loving (or unloving) hands of our caregivers.

> >

> >

>