Why Are We the Good Girls? The Psychology Behind Personality & Behaviour
How Did We Become the "Good Girls"? Understanding Personality through Nature vs. Nurture
One question I get asked quite often is: How did we become the "good girls"? It's an interesting question, especially since we all have this particular personality. But where did it come from? What factors shaped us into who we are today?
To answer that, I turn to my background in psychology and delve into the ongoing debate: nature versus nurture.
Nature vs. Nurture: What Shapes Us?
In psychology, this debate revolves around two main concepts. Nature refers to all of the biological aspects that shape who we are—our genetics, brain structure, hormones, and the chemical processes happening inside us. It’s the side of us that is predetermined, based on what we’re born with.
On the other hand, nurture is all about our environment and upbringing—our parents, our schooling, our experiences. The way we're raised and the situations we encounter as we grow up have a profound impact on shaping our personalities and behaviors.
While both nature and nurture play critical roles in who we become, for many of us, it seems that our environment and upbringing have had the most influence. Let’s explore how that might work.
The Early Years: How Environment Shapes Us
From a very young age, we're molded by our caregivers—our parents and those around us. Their goal is to keep us safe, guide us, and teach us how to navigate the world. We grow up learning rules and expectations that shape our behavior.
As we enter school, the structure becomes even more apparent. We need to be on time, follow rules, sit still, and meet deadlines. These behaviors are reinforced as we move into the workplace, where timeliness, productivity, and deadlines are key to success. All of this structure teaches us to be reliable, disciplined, and focused on achieving goals.
But here's the thing: Not everyone is shaped in the same way. People have different personalities, and not all of us respond to these influences in the same manner. That’s why certain business strategies or tips that work well for others might not work for us. Our approach to work, life, and relationships may be different due to how our personalities were shaped.
The "Good Girl" Personality Traits
So, how does this all tie into the "good girl" persona? For many of us, our personality traits are made up of a combination of factors, both innate and learned. Some of the key traits that define us are:
Empathy: We have a deep understanding of other people’s feelings and needs. We care about how others feel and seek to help where we can.
Integrity: Because we care about others, we have a strong sense of honesty and doing what's right, even when it's not the easiest path.
Reliability: We show up, we do our work, and we can be counted on to follow through.
Collaboration: We thrive in team settings. Working together with others comes naturally to us, and we value harmony and mutual respect.
Accountability: We hold ourselves responsible for our actions and outcomes, and we value transparency in how we work and communicate.
Even though our personalities are all shaped in different ways, these key traits are what bind us together. They make us who we are, and they also shape how we manage ourselves and our work.
The Birth of the "Good Girl Rebellion"
So, how did the "Good Girl Rebellion" come about? It’s a product of us recognizing these traits and realizing that they don’t always align with traditional business norms or expectations. We may have been taught to follow rules and be "good girls," but we’ve learned that sometimes we need to push against the mold to thrive.
We don’t have to adhere to every rule to be successful. We can embrace our empathy, integrity, reliability, and collaborative nature while also challenging systems that don’t support our well-being or our values.
The "Good Girl Rebellion" is about celebrating who we are, acknowledging how we got here, and embracing the strengths that come from both nature and nurture. It’s a call to break free from the traditional mold and redefine success on our own terms.
Final Thoughts
By understanding how our personality was shaped and what traits define us, we can better manage our own behaviors and move forward with confidence, knowing that our unique qualities are our greatest assets.