Advancing The Species or Contrary Child?

What is it in our genetic makeup that propels children to embrace those things that aren't particularly valued by their parents? The source of this question is Olivia's developing personal passions. Everyone who knows her knows she is horse crazy, not a passion her parents share. Given her rural upbringing and the fact that little girs in general like horses, we've not found that particuarly remarkable. But we've seen other strong personal preferences emerge, and she's not getting them from school or daycare. For example, where do her strongly held environmental values come from? What's the source of her developing intererst in modern art? Why is she fascinated by African and Asian culture and artifacts, dragging her parents through the galleries of the British Museum that we might otherwise avoid? I suppose it's a part of the successful evolution of our species. By developing interests in things in which the previous generation had no interest, the species continues to advance its knowledge, understanding and mastery of the world around it. It's either that, or we've just raised a super-independent child who knows how to annoy her parents. In either case, it's clear we'll soon be making a trip to the dreaded Tate Museum of Modern Art. (The picture above is from the African collection at the British Museum. It's called the Throne of Weapons and is constructed of discarded guns. Olivia loved it.)