Is Hypocrisy Part of Human Nature?
The lesson we should take, perhaps, it to more forgiving of hypocrisy
Being a hypocrite is one of the worst things you can be called — you’re someone who criticizes others and yet does the same sin yourself. I have not seen a single politician who isn’t a hypocrite. As much as I loved Bernie Sanders, he made millions of dollars while preaching for democratic socialism.
Cognitive dissonance dictates looking away from that hypocrisy. Bernie was my candidate, so he was entitled be a millionaire while other candidates were not.
According to Dr. Susi Ferrarello of Psychology Today, hypocrites in ancient Greece were actors “who on stage had to pick the right words and right tones to give shape to a writer’s fantasy.” They had the work of interpreting or judging what to say behind a mask, and became known as work as a two-faced person.
Actors were, by nature, hypocrites. They played different roles that they themselves didn’t live by — and how is it much different today? Actors are paid to be someone they’re not, and they do it realistically and brilliantly.
The etymology of the word “hypocrite” comes from the words hypo and krinein in Greek — meaning “under” and “to sift, decide” respectively. The etymology means that actors could sift through…
