Since most people get psychology exactly wrong: First, Life Strategies by Dr. Phil (the ONLY book by Dr. Phil that I recommend) Particularly, Law #3: People D

Since most people get psychology exactly wrong: First, Life Strategies by Dr. Phil (the ONLY book by Dr. Phil that I recommend) Particularly, Law #3: People Do What Works quote: "By “works for you,” I mean you get some kind of payoff for performing the seemingly undesirable acts. And as you will see, this formula holds true even if at some other, perhaps more conscious or apparent level, you recognize that the behavior in question isn’t working for you; you may even see that it creates pain. Yet based on results, you are getting some sort of payoff, or you wouldn’t do what you do or accept what you accept. A simple example is overeating. At a conscious, rational level, you know it is counterproductive, but at some other level, it is rewarding you enough to maintain the overeating. So, based on results, since people only do what works, overeating must work for you in some way." Second: "If Life is a Game, These are the Rules" by Cherie Carter-Scott. particularly, Rule 7: quote: "OTHERS ARE ONLY MIRRORS OF YOU You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself." Projection is a big deal. "Every Accusation is a Confession" is everywhere. Third, works by Anne Wilson Schaef: "The Addictive Organization" and "When Society Becomes an Addict" These describe addictive behaviors and patterns in organizations and in society, and one can see them in cults (unfortunately, we deal with such behavior these days a lot) and even in "the mob". The point is that outside of addiction itself, the appeal of "Don't Make Me Think" and the cult's legitimization of truly vile behavior such as hate, prejudice, theft and violence is the reward or payoff that lures people, even if membership is self-defeating. As I read about some of the traits: Crisis orientation, denial, projection, lying, perfection (demanding it from others), ethical deterioration and so on, bells started ringing ... this is what I saw going on at some jobs, and in society. Similar thread here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36262466 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36262466