"Hypocrisy is driven by mental processes over which we have volitional control," said Dr. Piercarlo Valdesoro, a psychologist at Amherst College. "Our gut seems to be equally sensitive to our own and others' transgressions, suggesting that we need to find ways to translate our moral feelings into moral actions."
But that's easier said than done, especially in an election year. Even if the presidential candidates know in their guts that they are being hypocritical, they cannot very well be kept busy the whole campaign doing mental arithmatic. Besides, they are surrounded by advisers with plenty of mental power to spare to rationalize whatever it takes to win.
Politicians are hypocritical for the same reason the rest of us are: to gain the social benefits of appearing virtuous without incurring the personal costs of virtuous behavior. If you can deceive even yourself into believing that you're acting for the common good, you'll have more energy and confidence to further your own interests - and your self-halo can persuade others to help you along.
But as useful as hypocrisy can be, it's apparently not quite as basic as the human instinct to do unto others as you would have they do unto you. Your mind can justify double standards, it seems, but in your heart you know you're wrong.
From "Deep Down, We Can't Fool Even Ourselves," by John Tierney. The New York Times, July 1, 2008
Photo location: Baan Na Fai, Uthaitani province
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