Will: I agree that we are all neurotic to some extent, we don't divide into two
discrete
groups, one neurotic and one non-neurotic.

I think neurosis is formed when our innate and other healthy urges come into
conflict with
pathological social imperatives, like abusive, authoritarian parenting,
indoctrination into
irrational religion, free will and self-blame, original sin, nationalism,
repressed sexuality,
etc. As you put it, being taught sub-optimal behavioral strategies, which are
accompanied
by sub-optimal beliefs about ourselves. Without these pathological teachings I
think we'd
turn out quite healthy. In any case there's no evidence we wouldn't.

I believe this because I and others have observed that neurosis varies greatly
between
individuals and correlates most strongly in strength and kind with the way
people are
treated as kids. I think that's a fact which people routinely observe, in their
friends, their
families, human stories in history and literature, and if they are reflective,
in themselves.
But as kids get older, the common (pathological) belief in free will obliterates
what
common sense tells us with the dismissive "he/she should be over that by now"!

Ken