Just Thinking On… …Human Nature by Steve Wallis [Reprinted from Redwood Mpire News, newsletter of Redwood Empire Mensa, March, 2004; Nancy Flack, Editor]

History is rife with rock-stars who, upon gaining the good life, turn around and destroy it, and themselves. The same might be said of many dictators—they rule the roost, and then try to take over someone else’s henhouse. Anyone might forecast their failure, yet they foolishly go forward. Finally, there are the people of the world who just seem to make life difficult through gossip, or inattentive driving (or both if they use a cell phone).

Some people say that you can’t change human nature. When it’s phrased that way, I don’t know if they are talking about all the "yous" of the world—or is it just "me"? Is it human nature that people living in a good situation just make it more complex? Is it human nature to take a bad situation and make it better? I suppose I’ve done my share of each.

People everywhere are frustrated by people everywhere. Sadly, many complaints are followed by the defeatist sigh, "Oh well, I guess you can’t change human nature." That frustrates me. The phrase that comes to mind is, "Times don’t change but people do."

What is the essence of human nature? Is it human nature to fight for survival against the harsh elements? If so, what happens when the fight is won, the elements vanquished to lash with futile fury against my double-paned window? Are we then free to choose our own nature? Perhaps it is human nature just to make broad generalizations, but the supposed essence of human nature is that it is unavoidable. The inability to change suggests that individuals cannot change their habits. And we all know that habits are hard to break—but the very fact that they are hard to change means they are still changeable. I just hate to see anyone give up—especially when they give up without even trying.

So we can’t change human nature? So what! We can’t change the nature of elemental gold either, and yet we can cast gold into rings, pound gold into leaf, and shield sensitive spacecraft components with gold foil. Why can’t we change humans?

What is human nature? Is it the "law of the jungle?" a dog-eat-dog world? Does love make the world go ’round? What about money? Is human nature to be alone reading a book? Is it to relax with some friends? Jack London’s Sea Wolf Is a magnificent comparison between two views of the world—two very different examples of human nature. There is the sadistic captain "Wolf" Larson who, despite his obvious intelligence, revels in the sadistic treatment of all who fall under his sway. His is a dark world filled with pain, conflict and death, all for the purpose of profit and dominance.

Opposite Larson, in the dance of the story, are two writers who arrived on board quite by accident. These two educated individuals represent the pinnacle of literary society and the refinement of civilization. As the story progresses, the two fall in love, and together escape captain Larson.

Personally, I’m something of a behaviorist. I believe that the most important perspective on humans is not what we think or feel; it is what we do. The pursuit of wealth, violence, love, or sadism—all these and more are all part of human nature. In our times, we have all experienced the range of human emotion and action. It seems that our human nature changes; and frequently, at that.

The Meyer’s Briggs Personality Indicator defines sixteen different personality types. The Enneagram lists nine. In The Wizard of Oz… well, just pick your favorite character and you have an amazingly simple personality test. The point is that there are many ways of defining what human nature looks like. There are probably as many different personalities as there are people. The question then becomes, "How do people change?" Some people say, "You can’t teach an old dog new tricks." I say the dog just isn’t motivated to change. But we are human; we can choose some of our motivations.

We change, and we change a lot. After all, isn’t that the goal of Madison Avenue and the billions of dollars spent on advertising each year? If we are hungry, we go eat—because we have both the motivation and the means to fulfill that urge. Human behavior is the sum of the individual’s resources (abilities, education, money, time, etc.) and their motivations (hunger, love, hate, habits, etc.). Even motivations and resources are not set in stone. Some are driven by a need to acquire money. Same money, same person, at the end of the week, they are suddenly driven by the urge to spend that money! Go figure.

If it is human nature (and therefore supposedly unavoidable) to do any one particular thing, then why are there so many different types of people doing so many different things? Although humans are children of nature, we have the ability to change the face of nature. So, I suppose it should be no surprise that we have the ability to change our own natures, as well. Economists say that we have no choice except to act in our best interest. I’d say it’s in our best interest to improve the way we think and interact with others. What have you done differently over the years? How

has your nature changed? Were those changes purposeful or accidental?

We can change ourselves, and we can help others to change. So, if someone’s behavior bothers you, take the time to tell him or her so—nicely, of course. Let’s not give up on changing humans, and our nature.

Steve Wallis is a PhD student at Fielding Graduate Institute and co-author of Easy Genius: Awakening your Whole Brain to Build a More Powerful Memory. Surf the site at: www.easygenius.net.