Do you believe the majority of people are basically good, or just waiting to try to get away with something?

Something happened a few minutes ago to strengthen my belief in one of these directions. So what do you believe? Asked by NancyE 51 months ago Similar questions: majority people basically waiting Science > Psychology.

Similar questions: majority people basically waiting.

Both! I believe that most people are basically good AND that most of us will take advantage of certain situations if we can. The situations we'll take advantage of will vary greatly, however.

Some things that one person might do and feel like they've gotten away with something might not even make the average person blink. Something another person might do and feel it's just normal and everyday might make the average person turn white and want to hide. We each have different morals and ethics.

Oftentimes the things people do were perfectly justified in their head and they were unable to communicate their reasoning to the person who was offended. Other times priorities are simply so different that they may not have realized they were "doing wrong" in someone else's opinion. Everyone has a gray area.

Everyone walks their own line. Most people will walk through the middle, or even on the edge, of their gray area if it's beneficial to them. I don't think that makes anyone a "bad person" or even a "not so good person".

I think it's just human nature.

One vote for good If those are the only two choices, I have to take basically good. I think, in certain circumstances, some people are going to take advantage. Looting during a crisis or disaster comes to mind.

On the other hand, we see so many examples of selflessness and charity in the same situations that the bad behavior pales in comparison. I think we hear more about badness than goodness usually. Ten motorists stop at an accident scene to see if they can help, five drive by without even slowing - which is more likely to be reported on the nightly news?

Because people are basically good, we expect the behavior of the ten motorists. That's why we pay more attention to the behavior of the five. Or, I could be being incredibly naive.

I hope not.

Oh good.....but it's so much easier to remember the jerks! I do believe that most people are basically good. I've had ample demonstrations of the courtesy and kindness of strangers, and seen people assume enormous burdens for no other reason that that they felt able to do so, that I can't believe anything else.It's a shame that the jerks stand out so dramatically.

It's a case, I think, of the exception proving the rule--but nasty people can be so hateful, with so little point, that they assume an unwarranted importance in your consciousness and memory. If I had that cosmic serenity that you're supposed to acquire through meditation, inner harmony or whatever the buzz-technique of the month is, I would just let the bad actors strut their stuff and disappear from the stage.My psyche is not anywhere near that well-regulated, however, so I find myself replaying unpleasant scenes and upsetting encounters over and over again. It's too bad, because when you think about it you probably do encounter 15 nice people for every rude one.....but which encounters make the strongest impact?

The unpleasant ones, of course. NancyE, we'll just have to get ourselves mantras and learn to say, "Ommmmmm, he is only a jerk. Ommmmmm, he is only a jerk.

Ommmmmmm, he is only a jerk." Do you think that would work? And for the person who has really gotten under your skin, maybe you should visit despair.com and buy him a nice framed print or coffee mug or mouse pad with this: .

Basically good. I have the firm and inherent belief that people are basically good. Sometimes they are trying to get away with something, but far more often (in my experience) people do nice things to be nice to people.

I've got a few reasons for thinking this way, but the most honest one is that thinking that everyone is always out to screw you over is a depressing, paranoid way to go through life. I don't want to be blind to the ways that they might benefit from doing something, but I know I'll be happier if I simply believe that others are basically good. I also know that it will boost others' days if I try to behave accordingly.

They way I think I can do that is by doing nice things for people and not expecting anything in return (and often anonymously). I guess it's kind of karmic in a way. For example, lately I've started stopping on the street to help people who have a map out and are looking at it in a puzzled way.

I moved here not all that long ago, so I can relate to what they are going through - I had to puzzle over a map or two my first few days. Sometimes I asked for directions. People I've asked have always been friendly and helpful, so I've passed it along.My freshman year of college, one of my classes very thoroughly explored the idea that everything anyone does is selfishly motivated.

Interestingly, I really like a lot of the ideas within this one. While, in a lot of ways it makes a lot of sense to me and I totally agree with it when I hear it - my deep down, firmly held belief is that people are basically good.It's like how some people have religion - they can hear all the logical arguments against it that they want, but that belief remains unshaken. I like the selfish motivation idea, but I can't shake my belief that people are basically good.

And my experiences have really backed it up - twice, I've accepted rides from total strangers. Once for a two hour car trip and the other to give some very complicated directions to get across campus. Both times, the trips went beautifully.

While I know that people get maimed and kidnapped and otherwise hurt doing the same kind of thing, my experiences continue to show me the good in people.As a result, I have trouble thinking the other way.

Basically good. I've been in disasters and other chaotic situations. Most people try to help the others and don't loot, rape, pillage or rob.

I've been surprised by how many people are law abiding when the chips are down. As they say, in a crisis, the best and worst in people rises to the surface. Recently I went through basic NIMS training.

Our instructors talked about how many people jumped into past disasters to lend a helping hand without being asked. They found it to be inspiring.

Sources: cited above and personal experience Snow_Leopard's Recommendations Informed NIMS Incident Command Systems Field Guide, 1st Edition (In stock) Amazon List Price: $21.95 NIMS: Incident Command System Field Guide Amazon List Price: $28.54 Planet Earth Clothing Nims Hat .

Looking for a book about psychology called The Shell People, I think.

People waiting in line as Classification Paragraph.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.