What Drives Our Urge to Break the Rules?

TL;DR

The urge to break rules often stems from a desire for autonomy and reactance, where individuals choose to do wrong simply because it is wrong. This behavior can manifest as both negative and positive expressions of perversity, influencing various aspects of human behavior, including creativity and humor.

Transcript

About 1,600 years ago, St. Augustine wrote "The Confessions," which was the story of his youthful descent into sin and his later conversion to Christianity. And book two of “The Confessions” has a great beginning: "I propose now to set down my past wickedness and a carnal corruption of my soul." So you expect sex. (Laughter) But to the disappointme... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍐 Augustine's sin in "The Confessions" was not carnal but rather motivated by a desire to do wrong, a perversion that fascinated the psychologist.
• 💔 The psychologist invited people to share their own stories of perverse actions, which included causing discomfort to others for no apparent reason.
• ⚠️ Perversity can be self-destructive, as demonstrated by the young man who chose to skate towards a dangerous spot on a pond.
• 🃏 Psychologists have developed a "need for chaos" scale to measure individuals' inclination to engage in violent and disruptive acts.
• 🍦 Some examples of more benign perversity include sticking a finger in a friend's ice cream or purposefully singing incorrectly during a professional choir performance.
• 🎨 Perversity can be clever and creative, as demonstrated by Marcel Duchamp's submission of a urinal as art and Banksy's shredded painting prank.
• 😂 Perversity is integral to comedy, as many humorous situations arise from irrational and immoral actions.
• 🔐 Reactance, or the desire to maintain personal freedom, can lead individuals to resist being told what to do and often motivates perverse actions.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the meaning of the term "reactance" when it comes to perverse actions?

Reactance refers to the unpleasant feeling that arises when people perceive a threat to or loss of their freedom, prompting them to reestablish their threatened freedom by engaging in perverse actions.

Q: How can perverse actions be motivated by a desire for autonomy and freedom?

Perverse actions demonstrate a person's resistance to being told what to do or conforming to societal norms, allowing them to assert their independence and autonomy by intentionally engaging in behaviors deemed wrong or immoral.

Q: What is the potential paradoxical effect of criticizing or discouraging perverse actions?

Criticizing or condemning perverse actions can paradoxically motivate individuals to engage in those very actions, as it activates their reactance and desire to assert their freedom and autonomy.

Q: How can understanding the role of perversity in everyday life help us make better decisions?

Recognizing the presence of perversity in human behavior can help us better understand people's motivations beyond material self-interest or affiliation with social or political groups, allowing us to approach decision-making with a broader perspective.

Q: Are all perverse actions negative, or can they have positive aspects as well?

While many perverse actions have negative consequences, perversity can also be funny, clever, and even make the world a better place by challenging norms and fostering creativity and innovation in various fields, such as art and comedy.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• St. Augustine's story about the sinful act of stealing pears reveals that perverse actions are driven by a desire to do something wrong for the sake of it.

• The Perversity Project collected stories of perverse actions, ranging from causing discomfort to others for personal satisfaction to self-destructive behaviors.

• Perversity can be both negative and positive, with examples from art, comedy, and the desire for autonomy, showcasing its power and role in human behavior.