From the ponzi schemes to internet marketing fraud with products or services “it” is happening everywhere. “Them”, of course, are the folks who have been caught red handed in a scheme of some sorts, and are trying to rewrite the facts and do damage control after being caught. As a psychologist, behavioral economist, and spiritualist I am frequently asked, “What made them do it?”
My questioner usually wants me to answer, “they are greedy”. This answer makes life simple for the questioner. Questioner walks away having differentiated themselves from the now labeled greedy person. End of thinking–case closed.
This is important to understand because the answer, “they are greedy” belies a lack of understanding of the behavior at the causal level.
Greed was not why “they” did what “they” did. Greed is not universally quantified. Each person will vary in their understanding of greed. During the height of the Madoff scandal I was in Cairo. It was interesting to note the Egyptians blamed the investors for the problem. The investors were the greedy ones, according to their culture. The Egyptians expressed, “who can expect to get a 30% return on their investment and not know it is a scheme?”.
So if it isn’t greed, then what is it?
“They” did it because “they” have a belief “they” acted upon. Often multiple beliefs sets are spun together like fibers in a yarn: “If I have a ton of money people will respect me”, or “no reason for me not to when everyone is doing it”, or “it is a dog eat dog world my job is to do better for my family”, each belief is rationalized and becomes a fiber added to the yarn and twisted, strengthening the yarn. As each fiber of rational is added, it acts to reinforce the behavior.
The questioner does that too. So do you, so do I. It is the problem with monkey mind thinking at the causal level. Before you get offended, give this idea a litmus test.
Test your thinking
Think about your most recent disagreement with a friend, co-worker or loved one. You made a list of your reasons why you were “right”. Once you started your list, did you notice how easy it was to add more reasons to the list of “why I am right”?
At some point, the disagreement is resolved not because of your thinking, but because you notice the incongruence with how you feel to the contentious situation now devloping as you go go through your list of “why I am right”. IF You want to get along, not fight with anyone, you release your list and say, “Hey I apologize for that comment, and I could have said it better”. In other words, congruence with how you feel is more important than being right.
Think about it: if you had a belief that fighting was helpful or beneficial—you’d still be fighting!
Now back to “them”. For ‘them” results of money in the bank, puts them in congruence. The more money in the bank, the more the causal level is fed. I’d bet, Bernie Madoff’s, sum total opinion of himself and success was based upon the amount of money he had in the bank. This belief, that he is successful based upon the money in his bank account is fed, again and again with each atta-boy and accolade about his money in the bank.
That is why the response to “getting caught” baffles us. They don’t seem to know they did something wrong. We respond with indigence, label “them” as greedy, missing an important opportunity for authentic discussion about what is really going on.
I want to be really clear. “They” are responsible for “their” choices. The fact they are lost in their own thinking is not an excuse. But the same is true for all of us. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the Bernie Madoff ’s of the world, big and small have no one to sell to?
Ultimately, my answer to “why did they do it?” isn’t flashy or fancy but it is true:
“Without a quiet mind, and a internal center we are the house built upon sand. The wind, (known as the latest hottest new trend) the rain (known as I will be respected if I have money) and the flood (I’m just trying to make money like everyone else) all seem like cause, and we the helpless follower.”
As long as we remain a nation of professional yentas, with much time to complain and blame and none to reflect we will stay trapped, missing the causal level of behavior and our opportunity to evolve and grow.
