The questions i've asked:
Why is it that i can consistently find and predict similar thinking to my own in people with similar levels of hormones. In my case, being from a small ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent, they stick out more in North America, and thus its easy to compare and see. As well, since i was born and grew up here, i see some unsettling similarities between myself and family from back home, even those i have had no contact with. Nurture is not the only reason, as there are some drastic cultural/political differences within this group, and i've noticed these 'traits' seem to bridge all these immense cultural rifts.
Even more recently, i became aware of stereotypes regarding my entire ethnic group that almost manifest themselves thoroughly in myself, as well as these other individuals.
Yet, there's plenty of differences. I am not sure which is different: what we think, or why we think it, or how we think it. Or what leads to which.
I've just noticed that after doing some more research, hormones have some incredibly potent effects on the nervous system, neuronal performance/growth/differentiation. I am specifically talking about the thyroid hormones, melatonin, and growth factors like NGF (remember that study where the results showed that the body dumped a ton of NGF into the system within the first year of being romantically 'in love'?). Although if people have any to add to the list, I'm interested
The decisions I/we make. How much of them are really influenced by these little things swimming around in our body?
I'm 23 for example. Would the difference between someone my age being attracted enough to a specific person, or not attracted enough to pursue a course of action that could change their lives be easily altered with a shift in hormone levels? This is the best example i've found with hormones.
Even in people with proven normal levels of hormones. What's to say their lifestyle doesn't affect their hormone levels (look for example, on studies relating to insomnia/circadian rythms/melatonin), into potentially altering their decision-making tendencies? That people who don't sleep at night, when taking melatonin supplements to help reset their daily routines and sleep normally, will eventually start thinking differently...making different decisions?
Everything i've seen indicated all this happens (genetics/environment -> hormones -> thinking -> decisions).
Maybe i'm getting philosophical, but what defines us? Is it the level of hormones in our blood resulting from genetics/environment? If we change these things to 'normalize' or imbalance our natural chemistry unnaturally...are we changing who we are, since our thinking/decisions will most likely be a little different? In my case, whenever I experiment with changing factors in my environment, I can end up inducing completely different kinds of instincts/behaviour (i think i'm perhaps describing this incorrectly), i think because my body's natural balance is a little off the normal pace to begin with due to genetics.
A specific example:
My father had hyperthyroidism throughout life, but without 'major' symptoms. I say 'major' because I think he embodied the symptoms so they don't appear major until he finally did show extreme symptoms, and needed half of his thyroid removed. Right before this, not only did he exhibit physical symptoms, he was psychologically very different. Emotionally, violently confused is the only way I can describe it. That was the biggest symptom of all, that prompted my mother to finally figure out something was seriously wrong. He started behaving normally (perhaps still emotionally, violently confused but not so nearly noticeable
) afterwards. He is finally showing signs of developing some extra padding on his physique as well
He's always been a skinny guy. I myself, eat, and eat, and eat, and i don't gain weight whatsoever. I can also not eat during a weekend or something, if i stay in all day, and i don't seem to get hungry easily although i don't know if that is related. A lot of the way my father thinks, i exhibit, as well as the contradictory nature of the way my mother thinks. My father has had little contact with me while I was growing up, he's always been working. I only know when I start to do strange things like him when my mother points it out. Likewise, the things i do like my mother...are things she never taught me. She used to do these things before when I was born, when she was young, and since then she has changed a great deal. She is mystified why I would behave like her from before i should have any right of knowing. I know you all have similar stories. Why? Well, I guess genetics is why. But how? Is it through hormones perhaps? Well some of it maybe.
