"Whether it's highlighted in major news headlines about Argentinean affairs and Ponzi schemes, or in personal battles with obesity and drug addiction, individuals regularly succumb to greed, lust and self-destructive behaviors. New research from the Kellogg School of Management examines why this is the case, and demonstrates that individuals believe they have more restraint than they actually possess--ultimately leading to poor decision-making."
Physorg.com News
Was it Mae West who said "lead me not into temptation...I can find it just fine by myself"?!
One of the primary tasks we wrangle with as adults, is now to manage our and modify our own behaviors. With a parent or teacher no longer looming their power and judgment over us, can we manage our own temptations and inappropriate/illegal/immoral/unethical urges?
The quote above is tongue in cheek, and it's funny because on some level we all recognize that temptations have a weird way of finding us.
We love to read tabloids and gasp over the indiscretions of others. From what I have read, even our animal kingdom friends tend to gawk and "gossip."
One thing my work has taught me, is to be significantly less judgmental. And a wee bit more careful about what I expose myself to!
We read about men in power and their spectacularly messy scandals, or celebrities behaving badly. But in truth, we are all more likely to err than we would like to admit. As the study indicates, being unable to understand our own risk tolerance v. temptation ratios are what leads us humans so often down a trail of tears.
Not to make excuses, but as humans we are quite behaviorally vulnerable to all sorts of cues and lures. Understanding this about ourselves is a key component of managing our own actions.
Utilizing your free will to completely avoid a tempting situation is far easier than mustering the will to actually leave the middle of temptation.
Situational factors can impair our judgment greatly. There is a reason cults like to take people away on retreats. There are known behavioral principles about isolating a person that makes it easy to influence their behavior.
Whether your temptation is an illicit tryst, a shady business deal, or a weekend bender, try not to spend time alone with your temptation. Like vampires, many temptations lose power and potency when exposed to the sun (and social mores/constraints).
Most of us would not fare better than your average politician or movie star if we were constantly inundated with temptations flying in our faces. Better to be an average Joe or Jane with a manageable life. Knowing our own limits is half the battle. Judge not excessively others with whom we have much in common. Avoid the known temptations that flit through life, and bring them into the light and company of others to bolster your will.