“GUILT” in victims of internet scams

Dr Elizabeth Tindle FAPSQUT

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 DEVELOPMENTKohlberg (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