y. Other characteristics that have to do with the mental capacity of the individual are also passed on through the parents’ genes. The justification for this assumption is that everyone has a different intelligence level, whether it be because of the size of the brain or for some other reason. I do not believe that there is anyone that would honestly be able to say that they think that all babies are just as smart as each other when they are born. The idea is ridiculous. Just as everyone is born physically different, they are also born mentally different. Therefore, the only factor that could initially affect the intelligence level of an individual before birth is the inherited genes of that individual’s parents. What is also included in this inheritance is the passing on of basic needs. These basic needs include physiological needs, which are all of the body’s requirements (food, water, etc.), safety needs, curiosity, the need for relationships, which is first encountered in the relationship between the mother and her child, and the need to reproduce. These basic needs are commonly thought of as instincts, however, instincts are actually the drive to gratify these needs. The subconscious mind is created during these early stages of life and, because the brain has not yet developed fully and there have been no other factors to interfere in the decision making process, makes all the decisions for the person while still inside of the mother. There have been no profound experiences or learned behaviors at this point, so the only influence on the actions of the fetus are its basic needs. This means that the behavior is seemingly determined before birth. There are, of course, certain circumstances which may have a later effect on personality and its development. Any sort of trauma to the development of the infant at this point could have mild to drastic effects that could cause damage to the body and/or brain. This would in...
