Is conscientiousness a learned or inherent quality?

Question

Is it a set of learned societal values that we've been taught to accept or an intuitive voice that "tells" us what is good from bad? How do we know good from bad unless we are taught?

Answer 1

The conscience is innate.  The 'Golden Rule' is taught, but is also known.  

Answer 2

I think for the most part it is taught my the society we grow up in. Every personality is different but overall if we live in a section of the world that teaches its children to be thoughtful then those children will grow to be thoughtful adults. As in anything there are no absolutes so there will always be exceptions to the rule.

Answer 3

We are socialized to observe norms and customs by parents & peers initially. As we grow older we learn about our culture including how to speak and think using our native language as it is spoken by the community we live in. If we are fortunate we get an education in that community. The kind of conscientiosness we possess from birth evolves with experience and self-reflection. At some point in the development of our conscience we ,because we have an innate free will, we each decide to make our conscience part of our character. The decision to do that can come early or late in life, depending on the emotional,intellectual, and spiritual maturity of the developing individual. Having a conscience and becoming conscientiousness involves taking personal responsibility for your acts and all the obligations you have to others,to yourself, to the planet that sustains you, and to God, if you so choose.   Conscientious individuals behave ethically because they have realized that you can't care about others without the knowledge and understanding that we have responsibilities and obligations of many kinds to do good and not bad acts as we live out our lives.

"con�sci�en�tious �� (knsh-nshs) KEY �

ADJECTIVE:

Guided by or in accordance with the dictates of conscience; principled: a conscientious decision to speak out about injustice.

Thorough and assiduous: a conscientious worker; a conscientious effort to comply with the regulations. "

"con�science �� (knshns) KEY �

NOUN:

The awareness of a moral or ethical aspect to one's conduct together with the urge to prefer right over wrong: Let your conscience be your guide.

A source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement: a document that serves as the nation's conscience.

Conformity to one's own sense of right conduct: a person of unflagging conscience.

The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that judges the ethical nature of one's actions and thoughts and then transmits such determinations to the ego for consideration."

Answer 4

Both. Like most questions of this type, there is no simple "black/white" answer. There is a spectrum of possibilities relating to the person and their given upbringing, environment & habitat. For example, one person may be naturally self aware and fearful of negative consequences and their fully developed mind-set  may be 80% inherent and 20% experience.

Answer 5

I think that it is a learned value because it is based on what you was taught from childhood into adulthood.  Not necessarily taught by what you learned from your own family values but by external people that inspired you.

Answer 6

I think we all have it in us to some degree but it is really more learned behavior. Dysfunction breeds dysfunction and if you grow up in an abusive home without seeking any help, you will ultimately repeat the same patterns. There are some exceptions but that it what I have found overall. The way you were raised between the ages of 1-3 is the most essential time in what you will believe to be right and wrong in later life.