I don't, at all, think we are born as "blank slates".
How do you explain child prodigies?
Buddhism?
Children who remember, in explicit detail, past life, experiences?
Regression memories that are backed up by historical fact, when researched?
I am a confident believer in reincarnation. It's the only theory that makes sense (to me), and my own past life recall, is too real for me to discount.
But I'm not trying to convince anybody. Research for yourselves, if it's something that interests you. It does me and I've looked into it, pretty extensively, enough to convince me.
So no, no "blank slate" for me.
Children vary. I have seven and there are no rules that fit. They have always had predispositions, but, as children, they are highly malleable.
Some take more work to teach civility to, some are naturally compassionate and gentle. Some are sensitive to others, some are distinctly not.
My youngest is a natural manipulator, was very violent from a very young age, lies easily and is charming and highly intelligent.He claims that he would be a psychopath, if it wasn't for me, he claims, I taught him morality, and, to not act on his violent and manipulative impulses.
I will say, that he was very hard work.He needed very firm boundaries, he needed ethical and honourable people, like myself and my partner, to model "morals" and civil behaviour.
He claims that he didn't want to be like the people he saw who lied, were unkind and mean, he wanted to be like me, because I was (am) the only person he trusts and he chose to change his behaviour, to be more like mine, because he values our relationship, my respect and love for him.
His father? Not so much. His father is one of the liar, abuser, drug taker, criminal people that my son chooses not to be like.
As for me? My.mother told me that I shouldn't lie, because she would be able to tell. I tried it out, I tested her, with a minor fib about a school carnival. She didn't detect the lie, but I felt so uncomfortable telling it. My own conscence pricked me, badly. I was five.
I noticed that she wasn't a very honest or accountable person, though, manipulative, blamey, histronic. I didn't like it. I didn't even like being lied to about Santa. I was mortified to find out that was a lie. I have never lied to my children about that. I detest lying and being lied to.
My ex used to taunt me, calling me a "goody two shoes" because of my honesty. My current Aspie partner loves me for my honesty.
I like being honest. I like certainty, which is hard to come by. I like the feeling of being committed to truth, more than popularity. I like that my kid's and my partner trust me and can trust me, because I'm honest with them. I try not to be unkind and hurtful with my honesty, because I really don't like hurting people with my truthfulness. I avoid many people because of it.
My mother taught me "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all", and that has shut down communication between us, because she was been someone who has hurt me a lot.
So my world has narrowed, because of my commitment to truthfulness and my compassion and unwillingness to cause upset and hurt.
Maybe I am a little cowardly because I cannot bare to be abused and rejected, due to my honesty, these days? I don't know, I just know I am tired of conflict and social scapegoating and I need a rest from all that, so I lay low, now, for the moment.