International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) |Volume IX, Issue XI, November 2022|ISSN 2321-2705
Joyzy Pius Egunjobi, Ph.D., Dr.AD., M.Ed., M.Th
Psycho-Spiritual Institute of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, an Affiliate of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya.
Abstract: As human beings develop physically, cognitively, emotionally, morally, technologically, and spiritually, so they develop vices which are moral depravity, moral fault, and/or a habitual trivial shortcoming. These vices such as biting, fornication, lying, gluttony, greed, jealousy, stealing etc. develop at different developmental milestones of a nature-nurture interaction and as early as from infancy from underlying normal behaviors. It is theorized that if the behaviors that may lead to vices are well managed, they may become virtues. However, if one skips these developments in early childhood, it might catch up with one in adulthood where the struggle to overcome the vice may become sterner. This theory of human developmental vices may be important in understanding human negative behaviors and in promoting healthy parenting as well as understanding the individual differences inherent in each child response style as it interplays between nature and nurture. Researchers are challenged to empirically investigate this theory.
Keywords: Biopsychosociotechno-spirituality, Developmental Vices, Fixation, Moral depravity, Vices, Virtues.
I. INTRODUCTION
As one develops physically, cognitively, emotionally, morally, technologically, and spiritually, so does one develop vices. The development of different vices may be associated early childhood biopsychosociotechno-spiritual development. As certain vices are associated with certain stages of child moral development, the way the significant others address these vices coupled with a person’s own response style (Egunjobi, 2021) will determine if a person will be fixated, outgrow, or transform the vice to another more serious vice.
A vice can be seen as moral depravity or corruption, a moral fault or failing, and/or a habitual and usually trivial defect or shortcoming (Merriam-Webster, n.d.a). It can also be a practice, behavior, or habit which is viewed as sinful, degrading, immoral, rude, deviant, or perverted in the society. It is a kind of a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, bad, unhealthy behavior, a transgression in a person’s temperament. An Italian poet and philosopher, Dante Alighieri, identified seven deadly vices namely, Luxuria (extravagance, later lust), Gula (gluttony), Avaritia (greed), Acedia (sloth), Ira (wrath, more commonly known as anger), Invidia (envy), and Superbia (pride). The opposite of vices are virtues. Corresponding to the seven vices would be virtues such as, Chastity, Abstinence, Temperance, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, and Humility (Dante, Inferno, n.d). These seven deadly vices were originally known as the seven deadly sins taught by the Catholic Church. They were first created by Pope Gregory the Great (540 AD – 605 AD) and then elaborated in the 13th century Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas as an instructional guide for theologians (Britannica, 2022; Florence Inferno, 2014). In modern times, vices can include cultism,