Biological and Cultural Shaping of Mind and Behaviour

We often wonder how do we behave in a wide variety of ways. Sometimes we feel happy; sometimes sad. The equipment with which we are born – the brain, nervous system and sensory – motor system is central to the functioning of organism. Earlier, it was believed that there is some inner spirit in all of us that controls our behaviour. Today, we know that our actions and bodily movements take place in an environment and are jointly determined by the socio-cultural environment and the nervous system. We are born in a culture which is already in existence. As a result, the functioning of the system is often mediated by the socio-cultural environment. In a way, our nervous system acts like an engine in the automobile that controls every movement and speed of the vehicle. The socio-cultural context provides opportunities to act in specific ways and, inturn, shapes the way we think and act. Any analysis of human behaviour will remain incomplete without taking into account the interplay of biological and cultural factors.