The real me

When we act out of character, was it us? Or was it the environment? Or both? We should come to terms that as humans, our behaviours are inconsistent and usually contextual. It’s true that the idea of character pretty much assumes there is some kind of consistency and continuity in a person – the way he or she behaves and the moral qualities involved.

To what extent can we consider external circumstances driving one’s behaviour or material outcomes? And to what extent is one culpable. This is not just a question of law and legal proceedings but also in everyday dealings, perceptions and relationship management. What is the story we choose to let ourselves hold on to?