Are behaviors inherited?

Behaviors are so interesting in that we are all so different.  While we have some similarities, we are all different in various ways, including our behaviors.  Therefore, it can be interesting to think about if your behaviors are inherited or not. Most of our behaviors are learned in our formative years of life.  In those formative years of our lives, we are like sponges soaking up the behaviors of those around us.  From a very early age, we are taught basic behaviors, such as drinking and eating.  Then as we grow older, we are taught more advanced behaviors, such as walking, talking, etc.  So from this perspective, our behaviors are learned but are inherited in the sense that we are inheriting them from whoever is teaching them to us. 

Another perspective on this matter to consider is that we inherit genes that influence our behaviors.  For example, a child of athletes might inherit some athletic genes that would influence them also to become an athlete.  On the same note, we inherit the genes that could lead to certain mental health issues, which also impact our behaviors.  For example, if someone inherits depression from a family member, that could lead to certain depressive behaviors, such as isolation.  From this perspective, you can see how we inherit certain genes from our family members that could come with certain behaviors. 

Whatever the case may be between learning behaviors and/or inheriting behaviors, you can always learn to change them.  Even if you inherit a mental health issue, such as depression, you can learn to cope with the behaviors that might come with that.  Inheriting something negative can feel like a hopeless revelation because it is completely out of your control. However, just like we can learn negative or positive behaviors, we can also learn to reverse behaviors that we do not want in our lives.  Also, recognizing that you inherited something hopefully helps you take the blame off of yourself to be open to changing the behaviors you want to change.