Social environments and the wiring of our brain

Contrary to animals that come into the world hardwired for everything they need to survive, we are born as helpless creatures.
The programming we come with covers the basic functions that keep us alive, the rest we learn on the "job".
Unlike humans, the birds don’t need to learn how to build a nest and the baby spider doesn’t go through years of training to be able to build a web, they come into this world equipped with all the knowledge they need to function.
Our lack of innate "training" when we are born allows for more flexibility and variety. We adapt to different weathers, different types of food, and to  different environments.
Animals on the other hand are less adaptable than humans in that regard.

This neuroplasticity that shapes our development comes with extraordinary advantages but also with significant vulnerabilities and shortcomings. 

While animals inherit precise behavioral programs that ensure immediate survival right after they come into this world, humans are born with a "blank slate" brain that must be slowly programmed through years of arduous learning.

This makes us dependent on our social environment to transmit to us all the information needed to navigate life's labyrinth. 

This extended period of learning allows us to master complex languages, develop sophisticated tools, create art and build civilizations that can thrive in different environments, from the Arctics, to tropical rainforests, to urban cities. 

This same adaptability makes us sensitive to our early social conditioning. 

A child raised in isolation will fail to develop normal social skills, while a bird will be able to build its nest regardless of its upbringing. 

Our brains are moldable, they allow us to learn new skills, change our beliefs, and reinvent ourselves, these same abilities are impossible for animals locked into their genetic programming. 

This trade-off between instincts and learned adaptability explains why humans can thrive in different environments while at the same time requiring complex social support systems for their survival.