Homo pleonexia: Man of desire.

Dr Elizabeth Tindle FAPS AFBPS

Pleonexia An enslaving desire for more.

• pleo = more• An enslaving DESIRE for more

• Shermer, Mind of the market - “Homo economicus“ - humans are motivated to decrease their work and increase their money.

Author of "Why we believe in weird things"

Why do we do what we do?

• Biological: Survival of self and offspring. Dawkins, “The selfish gene”

• All creatures driven (motivated) to find a mate (a receptacle for one’s genes)

• Biological investment to continue self into future. Need security (food, home, safe from threat)

CONTEXT

• Human behaviour reflects the context in which we find ourselves (The Lucifer Factor, Phillip Zimbardo, 2007)

• World context- globalization: global crime : international criminal networks (20% world’s GDP)

• Liberalisation of financial and commodity markets.

Historical Perspective

• Aesop’s fable: The dog and his "shadow"

• Aesop, a slave to a philosopher.• 5th Century BC• “I will get a bigger piece than I

have at present” • Lost both (compare “victims” of scams)

• Moral of the story!?

Appetite

• “Seeking affluence creates a constant feeling of deprivation”Michael Oakeshott in ‘The tower of Babel’Affluence will make us happy. Acquisitiveness – like the Jackdaw of Rheims, we gather more and more items to usWe die with our possessions – burial grounds: Indian suttee.

Common Proverbs or sayings

• A fool and his money are soon parted.• In for a penny: In for a pound.• No time like the present• Strike while the iron’s hot!• He who hesitates is lost.• Take care of the pence and the pounds

will take care of themselves.

Warning proverbs and sayings.

• The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

• Curiosity killed the cat. • All that glitters is not gold.• If you play with fire you will get

your fingers burned.• A bird in the hand is worth two in

the bush.

Retirement nest egg

• Uncertainties- imponderables• Is it enough? • How much is enough?• How long will I live?• Cost of medical care• I must be safe and secure• Quality of life• Angst, Trying to cover all bases for

happiness (Love and money)

Who am I now? FINDING IDENTITY

• Retirement!! What will I do?• Age 55!! 30-40 years of WHAT?• Loss of role, purpose or meaning. eg

Doctor - Nobody needs me now.• Money symbol or badge of success “I’m

a winner!” “Look at me” “I’m important” “Don’t ignore me”

Initial email

• Someone has sent me a “letter”• Someone has noticed me • Someone is listening to me.• Not much happening today.• Curiosity.• Unknown adventure. Fills an

existential void.

ID versus Superego (Freud)

• ID - Instinctual drives (sex, greed! – seven capital vices?)

• Greed, gluttony, lust, envy, pride, avarice, sloth

• Superego – conscience• Conflict between the two = anxiety• Ego – self, I, psyche.• “I’m a nobody: Who are you? Are you a

nobody too?” Emily Dickinson

Parable of the TALENTS

• Condoned the investment of money to make more

• Punished the one who safeguarded his money

• Rewarded the former with the capital of the latter.

• “It’s Gospel!!!” I have to invest my super and make more..

“Skinner box” behaviour

• Will continue conditioned behaviour while there is still an adrenaline rush. Waiting for reward (the pellet).

• On the edge of the seat –expectancy. Feel alive. Excitement with risk.

• Tickle of the brain pleasure centre• Ennui - feel flat, low depressed, bored. • Anomie – disconnected- alone

Ego driven behaviour

• Why go sky diving, white water rafting, BMX jumping, car or motorbike racing, mountain climbing? Sailing, skiing etc? The risk, the thrill and the adrenaline rush are pleasant. Secretive anti social or illegal risks (crime, fraud) are taken every day.

The spectrum of 'love'

• Deals male /female- hoax?• Women on world market looking

for a better life (sugar daddy!)• Catalogue “brides”• Girls for brothels- voluntary-paid• Girls trafficked for brothels-no pay-

as good as owning a race horse.

The package/ pay-off

• Regular sex. Emotional attachment.• Somebody to do the jobs/ chores• Companion- second income!!• “He who dies with the most orgasms

wins”. A highly prized commodity.

Unusual internet behaviour

• Copy cat suicides –Bridgend, Wales.

• PIU Compulsive • Denial of having a problem• Impulsive cf gambling• Excitement – risky• Intermittent reinforcement – longer

to 'extinguish'.

Finally"Happiness is a mind free from fear and desire"

• Comments?

• Questions?

• Thankyou for your time and attention

Elizabeth• e.tindle@qut.com