thank you for sharing your insightful response regarding the Grand Narrative and
how it ties to modern psychological theory. Through your analysis, you effectively
tied the concept of creation and redemption to virtues that can be developed to
assist with the process, such as self-control and self-regulation. As both Sproul
and Wolters point out in their works, goodness precedes evil, it is not a
dichotomous relationship, but rather one that has been layered seeing as creation
in itself is the foundational element and it gets plagued by sin (Sproul, Wolters;
2000, 2005). Because we have been granted with free will, there is a fine balance
that we as humans must walk; when individuals experience difficulty in staying
the course and start making poor choices, the Grand Narrative can present a
framework through which good behavior can be restored (Sproul, 2000).
Furthermore, I like how you pointed out that lessons from the past are constantly
resurfacing, and that the sins experienced during biblical times are just as likely to
occur in contemporary society—these sins may be reflected in other ways seeing
as our society has greater access to resources and technology that can
exacerbate an individual’s underlying negative proclivities. These vices must be
kept in check, so that individuals do not resort to criminal activity. a Using the
Grand Narrative, psychologists can take a step by step, systematic approach in
deciphering someone’s behavioral patterns. Psychologists can offer a timeline for
the individual with a planned approach to explore different consequences of their
actions depending on the route they take (Duckworth & Gross, 2014; Mamayek et
al., 2017). This has always been interesting topic and on that is constantly
studied/debated when dealing with children as they reach adolescents. You don't
truely understand behavior until you witness the best and worse that individuals
are capable of committing. a Can Behavior be explained as easily as an inherit
genetic (nature) constraint verse environmental factors such as nurturing is
something that educators have been working to determine. In the last decade,
though, various studies have shown that almost all traits and behaviors are at
least partly influenced by genetic factors (Polderman et al., 2015). There still
needs to be further research to determine which genes might affect or be
responsible for influencing our self-control.
a a This brings into the idea or theory of Adam and Eve choice to disobey God in
the garden of Eden, could be the ones responsible for the genetic foundation in
our human genotype that limits some of us with self-control. Maybe. a However,
we need to still examine the environmental factors that influence self-control and
what determines our wiliness to act out. The environmental factors could be a
trigger to the genetic factors making some of more incline to behave in a certain
manner. If this is the case, then should some people be held responsible for their
behavior if it is genetic and triggered by environmental influences due to societal
constraints?
a a Hopefully with more research and studies on behavior self-control we can have
a better picture what determines the control level of individuals within certain
situations.
I like how you related self-control to sin and distortion. Self-control is directly
related to how the fall happened. With his free will, Adam gave in to temptation.
Some, but not all, distortions also relate to self-control. Impulsivity, to include
eating, adultery, and violence all relate to self-control. As a school counselor and
student of developmental psychology, I work with youth a lot on self-control. It is
a skill that many people, including adults, struggle with daily. After the fall, it
something we really have to work hard at every day in order to succeed long term.
However, some illnesses and other factors affect self control too. How is your
interest in self-control related to your degree program and goals in life? Wolters
discusses how we should strive to not altogether get rid of what has been
distorted, but rather to purify and sanctify it (2005). This has much to do with self-
control and self-regulation. It takes an immense amount of these attributes to
help reform what has been distorted. Not only that, but to help keep things that
way and help others to do the same.
Reference
Wolters, A. M. (2005). Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational
Worldview (Second). William B. Eerdmans Pub. ISBN: 9780802829696.
Duckworth, A. L., & Gross, J. J. (2014). Self-control and grit: Related but separable
determinants of success. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(5), 319-
325.
Mamayek, C., Paternoster, R., & Loughran, T. A. (2017). Self-control as self-
regulation: A return to control theory. Deviant Behavior, 38(8), 895-916.
Sproul, R.C. (2000). The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that
Shaped our World. Crossway.
Wolters, A.M. (2005). Creation Regained (2nd ed.). William B. Eerdmans Publishing.
