Psychogenetic constraints on behaviour
- Bias in acts of conscience
Claim
- The capacity and exercise of both conscience and clarity of reason, as dominant influences on behaviour, are biased by induced and self-induced values. The process begins in childhood where entire value systems are imposed by the family and by schooling, and continues to early adulthood. By that time the individual has been led by his personality make-up and his psychological complexes to acquire any one or more of a range of vows, professional oaths, senses of duty to country and to causes, the calling of a mission, various moral obligations, reservations and scruples and similar beliefs. To the extent that these addictions close the individual's mind to dialogue with others of differing views; terminates further search for improved perspectives, facts and conclusions; and propels the individual into uncontrolled emotionality, there is an element of fanaticism present. In this sense the most apparently diverse behaviour has a common element. Thus pacifists and conscientious objectors may be as intense as militarists and war-mongers. Those who conduct vendettas or act as terrorists may be compared to vigilantes and others who would suspend trial by jury and other due process. The superstitious are a counterpart to scientists who have censured colleagues for holding unorthodox viewpoints. Transnational religious and ideological missionaries have just as dedicated and one-sided views as the transnational corporations. The bias in peoples' lives towards one dominating idea or dream and exaggerated attempts to fulfil it are written in red in the ages of history after the names of dictators, messiahs and others who have proclaimed their 'truth' as the Truth.