I think that Harry, for the early years of his life, was practically squashed by the Dursleys. He learnt from and early age not to ask questions, or be rude, and basically how to behave in their house. He couldn't really do much, he was trapped in a way, and would always be close to one of them. If Harry was a squib, for instance, and went to muggle school, he might react differently, see how other children were and be a completly different person, but then again, he might not gain any confidence and stay as shy, quiet Harry for the rest of his life.

I think the introduction into the wizarding world showed Harry that not everyone was like the Dursleys, and there were people out there that had suffered, not exactly the same, but similar experiences to him. Hagrid; who lost his parents, Hermione; who had just as much shock finding out about her powers as Harry, Ron; who often felt put down in life and put to the bottom of the pile.

Harry's first encounters into the wizarding world were mainly extremly different to his life in the muggle world; he was liked, accepted and even admired. Hagrid and the Weasleys helped Harry into wizarding life in a friendly way, showing Harry everything. Harry basically started a new life on 1st September, learning new things and making friends. Harry's first encounters in the wizarding world probably made him happy, and he wanted to make friends and feel accepted for once.

That's what i think
Sorry for the essay...

I think that someone who has been neglected, and treated like Harry was, will always feel averse to the people who neglected him. That is to say, because the Dursley's treated him badly, he found disgust at them and never wanted to be like them.
He wasn't used to anything, so when he was given everything, he was just overwhelmed, and then he could begin to be nurtured by others, thus learning love, forgiveness, nice-ties, etc.

However, I think, if the Dursley's had brought him up like they had their own son; spoilt, ungrateful, brute-like, he would have been the same as Dudley perhaps?

I don't honestly think that harry hated the Dursleys until he realized what he was actually lived the life that he was meant to live in the wizarding world. I think his upbringing taught him to just be humble and "seen not heard" but once he realized that he was intended for something so much greater, he saw that he previous existence was one of contempt. He was raised for humility, and that carried over into his personality, whether he wanted in to or not.

I think it's because he disliked the dursleys so much that he didn't want to be like them, almost like he strived to be as different from them as he possibly could. Also after befriending Ron and Hermione also had a great deal to do with it, and I think that after he found out a little bit more about his parents he realized that they were good people and he didn't want to disappoint them.

I thought about this a lot, and I agree that the chances of Harry being the loving and warm person he is are very slim. He grew up to be made to feel like he was worthless, that nobody cared about him. He would have a LOT of issues, especially as he had no friends at school either.

He would have problems fitting in at Hogwarts, problems dealing with the fame, he would probably have turned to crime etc. Being locked in a small space for long periods of time would probably have given him anxiety problems as well, such as bed wetting, panic attacks, ticks...

There are many types of people in the world, but when it comes to those who are abused, neglected, irritated throughout their upbringing, there are usually one of two ways they head.

1) They become what they have learned. In this case, Harry would have been a whiny, sniveling, annoying boy who believed himself better than others.

2) They become the opposite of what they have learned as they are so disgusted by the ways they have been treated, they can't imagine treating others the same way. I think this is where we find our Harry.

I don't really think that Harry 'hated' his family. While they didn't show him love or even tolerance, I honestly think that, because of his nature, he appreciated that they took him in. Of course I don't mean that he felt his treatment should have been as it was, but I think our Harry, surprised by his own wizarding abilities in the first book, may have come to an understanding about the Dursley's over the course of time.

I also believe that Petunia, Lily's sister, had most of her hatred stem from her lack of magical ability. Lily was seen as "special" and "different" and Petunia, who didn't have any of the capabilities of her sister, probably felt left out. Her reaction, instead of unconditional love, was to despise what her sister became.

If we cut the fat, the truth remains that every person, no matter their upbringing or what-not, decides what kind of person they will be. Harry could have just as easily used his amazing power for evil. Can you imagine the series in which HP & LV combine their power for evil? A very different world indeed.

I'm just happy the Harry & his friends took the road they did.

I agree with the first few posts. I think it was how horribly the Dursleys treated him that made him want to be the exact opposite.

I agree with all the posts but I also think that it reflects Harry's character and personality. Yeah, nurture (the Dursleys') were a big influence--since he was raised by them but I do think that nature played a huge role too because it was Harry's choice to do what he did despite the Dursleys. He chose to be the person he became to be and wasn't influenced by the nurture the Dursleys tried to impose on him.

I think that Rowling shows us by Harry being who he is--that it is our choices in life as well as who we are at the core that make the biggest differences...

I think that since he got treated so badly, that he didn't want to treat others like that. Just think about it: if you go treat so badly, then why would other people wanted to be treated like that? It also almost prepared him for what to come at Hogwarts. He has been teased, torchered, and other stuff like that. If he was treated very well, and never had to do anything in his life, then he would've been weaker and the turn out of the end, would be very diffrent. He would have probally died and the bad guys would be ruling for like forever(Ok, that was a little bit over the top. Sorry!)!

Maybe he felt to lonely that he really wanted friends. So when he met Hagrid & Ron, he was really happy and liked them.

In this day and age, I have heard many stories of child abuse, and although the child is in a very bad home(getting beaten, starved, etc.) they know that it is wrong because they have a conscience that tells them that it is wrong. many times when a child is beaten the parent tells them that it is the child's fault(sometimes), so the child may connect abuse with doing wrong, so as long as others don't do wrong the child shouldn't show that anger/violence inside.

I don't know if any of this makes sense...it's just what i think is why Harry turns out loving. that and the fact that he spent a year of his life with loving caring parents before he went to the Dursley's and many babies learn the most before they are born and when they are very young(like within a year of life)