It Seems Logical But.....?

When two different processes can account for a single phenomenon, I quickly reach for the electromagnetic spectrum as an analogy. The spectrum is a continuum, where the wavelengths grade into eachother. Most people know that white light can be split into the colours of the rainbow, with red at one end and violet at the other. We also know, however, that there are wavelengths beyond red (infra-red) and violet (ultra-violet). So, if you take a phenomenon like behaviour that can be genetically programmed ('instinctive') or acquired by experience ('learned'), I tend to think of observed behaviour being the equivalent of the visible light spectrum. Observed behaviour can, I think, be largely genetically programmed, with a small experience effect. It can also be largely acquired by experience, with a small genetic influence. It can be 50% programmed and 50% learned or anywhere else on the 'spectrum'. I think of 'pure instinct' as being the equivalent of infra-red and 'pure learning' as the equivalent of ultra-violet. They may not even exist in many situations. I have noted that many lay people now reach for 'diagnoses' of the behaviour of people around them. They label some people as having 'obsessive-compulsive' features and others as possibly having 'attention deficit hyperactivity disorder'. Both conditions are clinically real and cause serious problems for their sufferers. I have no evidence for this but one could argue that the behavioural characteristics of all people lie on a continuum. Some people are anxious and attempt to plan their lives in as much detail, as they can manage. Others find planning difficult (or boring?). They fail to fully concentrate and will lose things and/or find sticking to a schedule difficult. Could these not be on a continuum and reflect normal variability in behavioural 'styles'? Real 'obsessive-compulsive' and 'attention deficit hyperactivity' disorders (the neuroses), might be off, at opposite ends, the normal continuum. They may be the equivalents of infra-red and ultra-violet. Just an idea?