Transcript Presentation (MS PowerPoint 286kB)

“GUILT” in victims of
internet scams
Dr Elizabeth Tindle FAPS
QUT
Victims of scams meeting 29th Oct. 2011.
Qld. Police H.Q. Roma St., Brisbane, Qld.
Trying to understand guilt and its
manifestations
• Why do we have guilt?
• Context of scams and losing large sums of
cash.
• What is it? Theoretical frameworks
• How does it differ from
“shame”?
• What can we do about its
negative/debilitating affects?
Theories!
• Genes and memes
• Biological and sociological
• Biological – our genes ; our DNA has
to get into the next generation – and
the next- this is our immortality ad
infinitum
• We are “hard wired” to find a “mate”
like any creature on the planet.
References
• The Selfish Gene Richard
Dawkins (Zoologist/Biologist)
• The Mating Mind Geoffrey Miller
• Breaking the Spell - Daniel
Dennett (Philosopher)
Memes
• Inheritable beliefs that
influence the way we live /or we
think we are supposed to live
our lives.
• Our core beliefs which can
bring guilt or life problems.
Religions of the World
• Powerful memes are passed on
through generations. We
internalise them and own them.
• If we think we have
“transgressed” or behaved
outside the mores or norms of
our cultural expectations – we
may suffer guilt.
Shame v Guilt
• Some cultures/religions are
shame rather than guilt based
• Eg Family honour – kill, stone,
whip, excommunicate, disown
(fatwa).
• Shame is more blame other;
guilt is more blame self.
Kohlberg’s Hierarchy of
Moral Development
• There can be guilt at every
developmental level.
Freud Psychodynamic
theory
• Three levels. ID = Instinctual Drives
for sex, a mate, another person.
• Ego = The self “I” “ME”
• Superego = developed conscience.
• The battle between ID and Superego
produces anxiety/inner conflict.
LAW
• In court – looking for guilt or
innocence (level 4 of Kohlberg’s
hierarchy). If guilty- punish
Latin word for guilt is CULPA
• Mea culpa = my fault.
• Old English = gylt = sin, fault,
crime. Gyltig = guilty.
MORAL DEVELOPMENT
Kohlberg (1958 Phd Thesis. 1981- book)
• Stage1 obedience and punishment
• Stage 2 Self-interest (What’s in it for me?)
• Stage 3 Interpersonal conformity (good
boy/girl attitude)
• Stage 4 Law and order morality (Social
order)
• Stage 5 Social contract
• Stage 6 Universal ethical principles (good
of humanity and the planet)
BIBLE - Christianity
• Sin/guilt must always be
punished
• Says we are born with sin
therefore need baptism
• Do penance; flagellation;
fasting; praying. (40 days and
nights “Get thee behind me
Satan!”) Died for our sins!!
CREED/Confession
• I believe in …
• “things I ought to have done –
and didn’t… things I ought not
to have done – and did”
• Forgive me.
• Roman Catholic – regular
“Confession”.
How do we deal with
guilt?
• Challenge core beliefs
• Look for evidence
• Socratic argument; questions,
questions, meaning.
• Change some beliefs and
behaviours
• A- B- C ( Activating event/Beliefs/
Consequences)
Collective v individual
guilt
• We can feel guilty for what our
culture, country, leader, group
or family does. (genocide; war
behaviours; torture; crime, DV)
• We have little control over their
decisions and yet we may be
vicariously implicated.
QUESTIONS and
COMMENTS
• Thankyou for your time,
attention and interest in this
topic.
• Elizabeth