| ~Every man carries within him the entire form of our | | | | Despite their example, I also grew up in a religious |
| human condition.~ | | | | environment heavy with sin and guilt, adding a fear |
| Michel de Montaigne | | | | layer to my life outlook. Over the years I developed |
| Recent musings about crime, its perpetrators and its | | | | a more balanced sense of spirituality. Now I seek to |
| victims rekindled my lifelong speculation about why | | | | act responsibly, live harmoniously with those around |
| people do what they do. The simplest explanation is | | | | me and help those I can when our paths intertwine. |
| that people do what rewards them and avoid what | | | | I have never landed in jail or even come close. Still, I |
| punishes them. | | | | have not always followed my own life principles. |
| That seems simple enough. Maybe too simple. | | | | There were times I could have made better choices |
| Rewards and punishments can be immediate, down | | | | instead of following my impulses. Yet I keep trying. I |
| the road or far in the future. Sometimes rewards and | | | | have yet to meet anyone who has not at times |
| punishments compete like an angel and and imp | | | | strayed from what they knew was the best option |
| sitting on our shoulders whispering contradictory | | | | for them. |
| advice in our ears. Sometimes we don't listen to | | | | Should I give everyone the benefit of the doubt as I |
| either one but act on our feelings of the moment. As | | | | do with myself? I would like to but I have come to |
| the king in The King and I said, "Is a puzzlement." | | | | realize there are people who have no moral compass |
| What about the carrot and the stick? One account | | | | or at least none the rest of us would recognize. |
| has a man enticing his reluctant donkey to pull a cart | | | | What are we to make of such people? Some felons |
| by dangling a carrot tied to a string before it. | | | | don't care who they inconvenience or even kill in their |
| Another account has the carrot and the stick | | | | attempts to satisfy their own needs. Terrorists seem |
| representing reward and punishment as ways to | | | | motivated by revenge or a wish to eliminate from |
| motivate behavior. I worked as a psychologist for | | | | the earth those who do not think as they do. Sticks |
| many years and never arrived at a satisfactory | | | | and carrots have no meaning for them. That remains |
| explanation for why people do what they do. I saw | | | | a mystery to me. |
| what people did and heard their explanations but | | | | Life Lab Lessons |
| often felt as puzzled as the king of Siam. | | | | - List your values. |
| What if I just try to understand myself? What | | | | - How well does your life reflect what you believe? |
| makes me tick? As long as I can remember, I have | | | | - How do you react when people don't behave as |
| wanted to help other people. I don't know why but | | | | you would like? |
| perhaps it has to do with the many kind people who | | | | - Is there a better way for you to react? |
| loved and cared for me as I grew up. | | | | - Would understanding others make this easier? |