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> A study by the Common Cause Foundation, due to be published next month, reveals two transformative findings. The first is that a large majority of the 1,000 p
by enoch_r 11y ago
> A study by the Common Cause Foundation, due to be published next month, reveals two transformative findings. The first is that a large majority of the 1,000 people they surveyed – 74% – identifies more strongly with unselfish values than with selfish values. This means that they are more interested in helpfulness, honesty, forgiveness and justice than in money, fame, status and power. The second is that a similar majority – 78% – believes others to be more selfish than they really are. In other words, we have made a terrible mistake about other people’s minds.
One explanation: other people are not as selfish as we think they are.
Another explanation: we are more selfish than we say we are.
- ArkyBeagle 11y agoOr we're both, depending on what we had for breakfast. in a way, I suppose a fairly cynical way, doing a lot of social signaling that you are unselfish is somewhat self-interested. The highest-status individuals in tribal[1] settings were like Anthony Quinn's character in "Lawrence of Arabia" - "I am a river to my people!" [1]The Bedouin are tribal, but extraordinarily sophisticated. They'll outlast us all. It is a culture of great beauty. Will Durant's description of them as the root stock of all civilization is still with me. The way to attain status is not to pursue it, but to create the conditions in which it pursues you You can't win :) I suppose article like this are necessary, but they unfortunately make me cynical. I was blessed with a father who taught me how tricky altruism can be. His message was always "make sure you're doing something that matters" and boy, has that held its water. Edit: ... not sure how that fixed it, really...
- abandonliberty 11y agoOr: We are more selfish than we believe or say. Few people want to believe that they are selfish. Sadly, the paper hasn't been published and 'identifies more strongly with' is rather vague in definition.
- monopolemagnet 11y agoWealth brings power, power brings entitlement. Data: Stanford prison and the rigged Monopoly / pretzels experiments. Qualitatively: - Dbag taking up the entire level ramp in the parking garage with his Tesla so no one else can pass in the opposite direction. - Folks allergic to using turn signals, wasting everyone else's time and jeopardizing safety. - Basically empty winter holiday collection containers in tech areas. (Stingy fuckers.) - Could bitch on and on, but it's banally common in built-up areas.
- wavegeek 11y agoThis study fell into the trap of allowing people to judge themselves by their conscious intentions, and others by their actions. I assume this is advocacy research, because such incompetence is rare, even in the social sciences.
- jpmoral 11y ago> even in the social sciences. Was that jab really necessary?