Buying green could make you more likely to lie, cheat and steal: study
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Buying green may help save the planet, but a new study suggests it might also make you more prone to cheat, steal, and be selfish.
In a paper to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science, University of Toronto researchers Nina Mazar and Chen-Bo Zhong studied how students behaved after being given the option of purchasing environmentally friendly products, like organic yogourt or biodegradable laundry detergent, or conventional items.
They found students who chose green products were less likely to act altruistically afterwards than those who were simply exposed to green products.
The study, said Mazar, an assistant professor of marketing with the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, builds on research into the idea of “moral regulation” — that people either consciously or unconsciously balance bad deeds with good ones.
“What has been shown so far is that when we engage in actions that give us some kind of moral, warm glow — let’s call it that — that afterwards we are more likely to transgress,” Mazar said.
What an interesting window into human nature. If we think about it, we are all guilty of this sort of behavior. We rationalize our selfishness through the unselfish deeds we have done. We don't usually do this on purpose. Usually we say things like, "I know this is wrong, but at least I'm not doing that...."
We like to balance our unselfishness with a little bit of selfishness. Celebrities are experts at this. They can't be faithful to their marriage, so they start a charity in Africa. Their music is demeaning to women, so they support a women's shelter. They act in raunchy films, so they endorse safe-sex education.
What about us, what do we justify through our good deeds? Cheating, lying, stealing, greed, vanity?
Human beings want to feel good about themselves, but we also love what is bad and selfish.
Paul said it this way:
For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Romans 7:19
Selfishness is an extremely natural thing for us. We can't help it. We have these desires that we just can't seem to keep under control.
The sad thing is, selfishness works against our own happiness. From what I've observed in myself and others, I can conclude that selfishness tends towards misery, and unselfishness, towards happiness. Happiness comes from being unselfish.
The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever Isaiah 32:17
Selfishness makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint. After all, survival of the fittest requires that I look out first and foremost for myself. But if evolution is true, where does this ideal of unselfishness come from?
Yes, I realize that altruistic behavior can have survival advantages, yet that is only the case when it is exercised within the boundaries of a genetically related group (wolf pack, ant colony, herd of geese, etc). Human beings however universally feel compassion for those outside of our own family, tribe, or even nation, or at least we know we should. Where does that come from? Where does the desire for genuine unselfishness come from, to the point where our happiness is inseparably linked to our ability to see ourselves as "good people"? One of the worst things you can ever say to most people is that they are morally deficient. Just try and call someone "selfish," see what response you get. We are extremely sensitive about our moral status
Let me suggest that it comes from an unselfish God. Maybe this is a new concept for you.
What if God is completely and utterly unselfish? What if His very existence is devoted to the happiness of His creation. One of my favorite promises states:
delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
God actually cares about the desires of my heart? He actually knows them? ABSOLUTELY
I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope: Jeremiah 29:11
I have come that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. John 10:10
God did not just say this? He proved it when He gave up His Son to die in our place. In doing this, God proved to us that His nature is unselfishness. GOD IS LOVE.
What this means is that God is not some theological obstacle to the fun you want to have. God is on your side. He wants you to be happy. He knows that selfishness will destroy you. But guess what, He doesn't condemn you. He understands!
He knows why you gave in to that temptation that you just can't forgive yourself for. He knows why you have such a short temper, why you act selfishly. He knows that you can't help it.
But here's the thing. He wants to teach you about His love for you, so that it can transform you.
My son (daughter), give me your heart and let your eyes observe to my ways, Proverbs 23:26
God's not out to get you. He's out to save you. He wants to save you from yourself. He doesn't hate sin because it's offensive to Him. He hates sin because it hurts you!!!
He has better things in mind for you, things that lead to happiness, fulfillment, and true meaning in life. He wants to be your personal friend and life coach.
It all starts by getting to know Him. And He has promised: You shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13.
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