Everyone knows that in Christianity there are seven deadly sins that can lead a person to hell. Well, if not in this life, then in the next one … But let's consider, is our concept of sins so unambiguous? After all, if God allows them, then it is necessary for some reason?
More recently, the social psychologist Simon Laham of the University of Melbourne wrote The Joy of Sin, which argues for the seven deadly sins for humans. Sins can also have a constructive meaning, the scientist proves.
So, fornication improves our thinking, improves mood and helps build love relationships. Research shows that people who think a lot about sex are better at analytical problems. In addition, sex makes us altruistic, as we strive to please our partner in order to get satisfaction. In the hope of sex, we become more peaceful and suppress conflicts.
When it comes to gluttony, the same studies show that satisfying their food cravings makes people more generous. Thus, the subjects who ate a piece of the pie were more likely to donate funds to charity after that. How can this be explained? Probably, the fact that a well-fed person ceases to think about their daily bread, and the state of contentment disposes to altruistic actions.
At first glance, greed is not good. It is often said that money is not happiness. But money can be spent in different ways. Studies have shown that people who spent money on experiences (say, extreme entertainment) felt generally happier than those who acquired various wealth.
Laziness induces people to sleep, while healthy sleep improves memory and other mental abilities. It is not for nothing that it is often in a dream that various insights and solutions to problems come to us.
Laziness in the description of the seven deadly sins is often replaced by despondency, and it is argued that this is the worst of sins! After all, a person who indulges in despondency, grumbles about his life, renounces his divine mission and sometimes even ends up suicide … Therefore, he denies the very plan of the Lord regarding himself! This is what the Bible teaches.
In our time, the state of despondency is called depression. According to American professor Jerome Wakefield, depression never occurs by accident; it has a certain useful function. The scientist believes that it should be considered as a kind of transitional state. All extraneous feelings and emotions are blocked, we seem to “stop” and listen to ourselves, finding the incentive that will make us change direction, take other rails and strive to new heights and achievements.
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Anger helps us to influence other people. Unsettled by an overly impulsive interlocutor, they are more likely to agree with the aggressor's claims, just not to be the object of his rage … In addition, as statistics show, angry mediators are more successful in negotiations. But diplomatic behavior does not always bring the desired result. However, it all depends on the situation.
Jealousy means first of all comparing oneself to others. And this often forces a person to mobilize his potential. Thus, schoolchildren who compared themselves with more successful students received higher marks on exams.
Pride forces people to keep their brand, so as not to worsen their assessment in the eyes of others. Proud people are more resilient, can be assigned difficult tasks, and are more likely to take on leadership roles to maintain status.
Also, as you know, sins are often the result of immoral thinking. But it turned out that different parts of the brain are responsible for pragmatic calculation and moral values in humans. If something goes through the "moral" department, then you cannot force us to change our principles for any money. This was experimentally found out by a group of scientists from Emory University (USA).
During the experiment, neurophysiologists selected 27 women and 16 men. The subjects were asked to rate several judgments. For example, express your opinion about some religious maxims or assess the statements: "I believe that there is nothing reprehensible in child trafficking." Among the proposed judgments were also completely innocent, such as: "I prefer different colors of pills." While the volunteers were speaking, the researchers measured their brain activity with magnetic resonance imaging.
The participants were then asked to sign a paper stating something contrary to their moral convictions - let's say they supposedly agree that children can be trafficked. In exchange for giving up the principles, the subject was handed a certain amount of money.
And what? If a person put his signature on a document, then those brain areas that are involved were “turned on” when we count on the benefit from some business, decide how profitable it can be for us … But there were those who flatly refused to “make a deal with the devil,” despite the fact that it was a mere formality, and it could not have any consequences either for him or for anyone else. At the same time, they noted excitement of the ventrolateral area of the prefrontal cortex, which is believed to be involved in the formation of abstract thinking, as well as temporo-parietal adhesions, which are “responsible” for moral choice.
So some of our value attitudes and life principles really have no price: they are controlled by those areas of the brain that are not able to operate with such concepts as gain or loss. And such a person is truly incorruptible.
On the other hand, everyone's moral attitudes are different. Someone, after all, will never harm their neighbor, because they consider it immoral, and someone will even go for murder if they believe that it will improve his life …
Margarita Troitsina