Morality Part 3

In addition to parents, there are other people available for the child in which to identify as he watches TV, plays video games, witnesses movies and attends preschool and elementary school. Identification is defined as “generally, a phase of recognition, in remembering; a process by which an individual unconsciously or partially so believes, imagines himself behaving, as if he were the person with whom the tie exists.” The identification can also be with an idea, an economic system, a political figure or political point of view, a religion, a celebrity, socioeconomic status, country, football team, or book. There are a plethora of identifications that are made in forming one’s view of right, wrong, might, and weakness in the development of conscience based on what is said and done. Religion, with the 10 Commandments, has provided us with a terrific set of rules, morals, ideals and values in getting along with fellow man. However, because of the nature of man, not taking the Lord’s name in vain; honoring the father and the mother; thou shall not kill; and thou shall not commit adultery seems nearly to be impossible to follow. The statistics of killing, adultery, swearing and beating up elders highlight man’s nature. Our society’s moral and ethical behaviors are what in practice? For the male, there are plenty of sports figures in which to identify. As a kid, Gordy Howe was my favorite hockey player; Johnny Groth my favorite baseball player; Doak Walker favorite football player; FDR favorite political figure; Lone Ranger favorite radio figure; Maureen O’Hara favorite actress, and John R Tunis favorite author. Today, present day models include Marvel comic action figures; affects our James Bond [he even has a license to kill and had the power and charisma to sleep with beautiful women], Wolverine, Jason Borne, Jack Reacher, and a whole host of violent videogame characters. Because of the unconscious dynamic of the identification process, these individuals and ideas can do no wrong, speak no evil, and do no evil, irrespective of their behavior toward fellow man. It’s as if we have a filter that screens out in plain sight negatives, inconsistencies, flaws and their disrespect of authority and societies rules. It bad that because of our underlying emotional psychology dynamics [helplessness, insecurities, frustrations, fear of loss of love, rivalries], we tend to seek out these powerful larger-than-life figures. It’s like they are the Pied Piper and we follow in their footsteps blindly with our inability to use rational or critical thinking. OJ might be another example. He was loved, admired, respected with his power, charisma, celebrity success and was married to an attractive white woman. Yes, he fell from grace from not all, but many. So it happens that our identification heroes can fall really hard from grace. To Be Continued