Pat Gundry gives a list of characteristics to help you know whether or not you may be an abuser. One of the fascinating points she makes is that abuse is multigenerational. People have to learn how to mistreat those they “love”, so they learn from those who abused them.
But what really struck me was when she mentioned that it is a conscious choice to abuse others. While those who have been abused have a higher tendency to abuse others, the fact of the matter is that you can control whether you abuse others.
This flies in the face of biological determinism, which states that our genes determine how we act (Croteau & Hoynes, 2012, p. 149). But this position shoots that down.
Also, if biological determinism is true, then what is the purpose of rehabilitation centers and self-correction courses? If I’m an abuser, then that behavior is in my genes and I am not only not responsible for my actions, but I also cannot change.
If everyone thought of their actions this way, society would be in trouble.
Croteau, D, & Hoynes, W. (2012). Experience Sociology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
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