I've heard it said that we are products of our environment, but is that entirely true? If it is true, is there a tipping point where we can have more of an impact on our environment as it does on us?

My Argument

"You can take the girl out the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl."

This quote is a common saying that I've never questioned deeply before. As I started to think about it more, which is actually true? Do they both equally affect each other?

I think it is hard to understand where exactly the fine line is drawn. If we take a look at how micro cultures are formed, I feel the more that people spend time together in close proximity, the more a standard becomes true and the environment is then shaped.

Based on this argument, everyone brings their individuality to the table but then all of the individuals make up the environment. The environment then begins to solidify and evolve over time, until it is unshakeable.

This force becomes unquestioned until an anomaly occurs.

The Anomaly

anomaly - something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

What happens when an individual decides that they want to deviate from the norm? Then you have what appears to be an outlier. This outlier doesn't buy into the environmental standards that have been set before them. They have an undying desire to be different. To stand out.

Let's say that they stand out enough and decide to uproot themselves from the garden and pant themselves elsewhere.

When they decide to plant themselves elsewhere, they begin to have a longing for more outliers that think as they do. When this desire hits, they either look for already established environments, or they create their own.

Now Enters the Dilemma

Thus my question arises. Did the animal create the environments or do the environments create the animal?

Does the anomaly breaks out on their own due to the impact of the original environment or because of the god-like desire to create their own? And are they actually creating an environment or resultant of environmental pressures?

It could be argued either way, but I thought that I would share my thoughts on the issue...