Can you inherit your emotions? The answer is more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no”.
Certain emotional processes are based on your environment and situations in your life. Some, you’ll learn over time based on the things you experience, and you will hold on to them for years.
Other emotional processes, like sensitivity, can indeed be passed down through generations based on your family behaviors and the way you were raised.
Let’s talk a bit more about each of those factors in how your emotions can be passed down and how you might influence the next generation. When you have a better understanding of how emotional processes work, you might be able to make more conscious emotional choices around your children or grandchildren.
Emotions and DNA
One of the great things about different emotional processes is that they are completely unique to each individual. No matter how close you are to your parents or even your siblings, your DNA doesn’t control your emotions.
You can inherit plenty of things from previous generations, from hair color to health problems. But your emotions are unique to you in the blueprint of your mind and body.
With that being said, however, it’s important to consider mirror neurons and how they can play a role in your “genetics” affecting your emotions.
What Are Mirror Neurons?
Simply put, mirror neurons are brain cells that act the same way when you perform an action or watch someone else do it. For example, if you watched your father smile every time ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ came on at Christmas each year, you might have the same emotional response when you watch it. The neurons in your brain are firing in the exact same way.
What does that mean for your emotional processes?
These neurons create an “emotional resemblance” between you and your family members. After all, you’re bound to pick up on some behaviors and traits when you live with specific people for years. Chances are, your parents raised you largely based on the things they’d experienced during their own childhood—including the emotions they felt. They passed on certain values and beliefs that you eventually picked up on, without DNA involved.
The interesting thing about mirror neurons or emotional inheritance is that you might have some similar emotional traits as your ancestors simply because of certain traits and behaviors that have been passed down for years.
Why Is It Important?
For the most part, emotional processes being passed down through generations isn’t a bad thing. Little quirks, behaviors, and thoughts are what make families unique.
However, emotions aren’t always positive. Neither are behaviors nor traits that have been learned through years of experience.
It’s important to recognize which emotional processes are healthy, and which need to be weeded out of your life. Unfortunately, that isn’t always as easy as it sounds. It can feel like taking a piece of your family history or your own identity and ripping it out of your mind. But, if you have children and you know that certain emotional processes aren’t good to pass on, it’s important to get them under control and stop the cycle.
Don’t let that worry you. There are plenty of things you’ll be happy for the next generation to take on. The first time you see your child “mirroring” you, your heart might feel like it’s overflowing. But knowing how these emotional processes are passed down and recognizing them when you can will make it easier to keep your own feelings in check. As a result, you can have more control over the emotions and behaviors you pass on.
To learn more about emotional processes individual or family therapy can help. Please contact us to find out more.