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Most assuredly, culture and lifestyle affect behavior. Just as math and science go together, so do upbringing and behavior. To a point. Usually, a child who grows up poor faces not only a sad home but that child is rarely seen as positive potential within social entities, such as school.

Any human being, regardless of their genetic make-up, who is constantly being devalued by the projections of society will indeed be "less than". This of course is comparitive logic.

Most Americans think in terms of comparitive logic...i.e. "I am better." or "I am not good enough."

That is, most American's perception of themselves is based on someone else. Keeping the focus OUTSIDE of the inside.

However, had the well known conservative journalist, George Will, been raised in the Amazon among the Matis Indians (otherwise known as the Jaguar People)he would run around naked, barefooted and be an excellent hunter (sans Jeep, air-conditioner, gun...etc.). And had the Matis not figured out his exceptional intelligence, he would not be killed and he would learn to subtly run things.

He probably would not be as adept at their type of knowledge. (Like knowing that a certain type of plant when mixed with mud and thrown into a body of water, depletes the oxygen and causes fish to rise to the surface, making fishing a snap.)

His refined ability to discern would have been limited due to the harsh crudity. In other words, when intelligent people are consistently ignored and abused, the ability to cogitate on certain things is stunted. To make him one of them, they would abuse him, belittle him, ignore him.

Because he would be outnumbered due to his white skin (outer), he would eventually be made their "king" or their "punk". Depending on which status he was appointed, his ability to manipulate would thereby adjust.

Because I am an American to the core, I am extremely hesitant to think or say that a poor child is "less than". But I will say that the deck is largely stacked against them.

Culture, ultimately, is that part of lifestyle one absorbs in child hood. Some people overcome the negative aspects of it and some don't. In more crude type cultures, there is a tendency to go along with the scheme of things due to fear. This fear being instilled in children very young and causing problems well into adulthood.

Behavior is often the signal of culture and lifestyle speaks for itself. The best way to overcome negative aspects of culture is to change the lifestyle.

Learn more about this author, G E Barr.
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