Man has the capacity to do great good but also the capacity to do great evil
As a result of my extensive research and experience I have discovered a troubling reality. There can be a thin line that separates each of us from committing wrong doing or criminal behavior. If we are exposed to certain negative conditions, we all have the capacity to fail and falter.
There are two distinct forces at work in human behavior and they can simply be characterized as good and bad (evil). The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are various forms of evil in our world. The reality of personal sin is very real and active in our day-to-day life. If we do not accept these two truths of sin and evil, we will never understand negative human behavior.
Five cases of deception and poor choices in life:
- AIG (American International Group) - The greed of this organization and other Wall Street players caused the global economic collapse.
- Martha Stewart risked her financial empire for a fraction of her wealth, why?
- Legendary football player and movie star OJ Simpson, convicted to 33 years in prison. He didn't learn anything from the murder trial of his wife, Nicole Brown!
- A beloved and respected President Clinton commits sexual indiscretions in the White House. Do we all have weaknesses and times of poor judgement?
- Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois was impeached for attempting to sell President Obama's Senate seat and his excuse was, "I've done things like fight for families and they want to impeach me." He doesn't get it!
Comment: I never really understood my own failures and could not find the answers or solutions. The practical and acceptable reasons for my negative behavior left me unconvinced. There had to be other explanations and motives beyond a financial crisis. There was a "missing link" with my behavior and I found it!
Three Types of Influence on Human Nature
1) Natural Man: We are born physically alive but dead and disconnected from the spiritual dimension.
2) Carnal Man: This person does have a connection to God and spiritual things, but tries to live in both worlds. Most of us live and function in both of these realms.
3) The Spiritual Man: He is fully connected and engaged in the spiritual world and is ruled by spiritual power in his physical world.
Natural and Carnal Man operate on their human senses to confront the hostile world around them, but are lacking spiritual wisdom, discernment and power to overcome the daily challenges of life.
Five Major Paradigms to Explain Negative Behavior:
1) Character Roots (why am I like this)
2) Personality and Genetics (can I change my ways)
3) Sociological and Psychological Impact (am I responsible for myself)
4) Choice Theory and Evil (bad choices or bad world)
5) Ten Conditions (causes for failures)
The Ten Conditions I have identified during my research are the primary reasons for negative behavior. These Conditions influenced by drugs, alcohol, peer environment or the general decline of morality and ethics in society are a recipe for crime and deviance.
Three Examples from the Ten Conditions:
Anger - is described as a strong resentment that takes control of your reason, we become cynical, sarcastic and insulting it has been said, "it takes a strong man to defeat and disarm his anger." Did OJ Simpson failed to control his anger?
Pride - it is an invisible characteristic that paralyzes our hearts and seeks authority over others, we are superior and will not accept counsel. "Hilter felt he and Germany were superior to all races"
Selfishness - has been described is the most prevalent characteristic of this generation and it is illustrated as the Number One reason for our out of control divorce rate. "Scott Peterson wanted another woman and killed his wife and unborn child to satisfy his selfish desires"
There are seven other Conditions but all of them play a strategic part in our behavior. They don't lead to crime in most cases but they will open the door to making poor decisions and living a life of regret and disappointment.
"Foundation Statement"
I arrived at my in-depth study and examination of behavior by my own failures. I have an unfortunate but unique history in the criminal justice system. I functioned for many years as a police officer, detective, then a probation officer and correctional investigator and finally as an inmate. My crime had the markings of financial need but it was really "Pride" that caused my collapse and failure.
Please contact me to arrange a visit to your university or police college to detail my study and findings. Click on Motivational and Seminars for more information.
