Can most of our problems in America really be attributed to
behavioral failures in only five key dimensions? Consider the dimension of discipline. To be successful in life, we must understand
that we can’t have everything we want right now.
Years ago credit cards were rare. The first were issued by department stores,
hotel chains and gas stations, but the type of cards that are popular today
weren’t invented until 1958. Even so,
Americans who grew up in the depression era, had developed frugal habits and
were hesitant to accumulate debt except for very large purchases such as houses
and cars. More recently that mindset has
changed as people were encouraged to buy now and pay later. Sliding a plastic card has less psychological
impact than pulling cash out of your wallet.
It’s much easier to over-spend, especially on those nice-to-have items, to the point where “[a]bout 24 percent of Americans have more credit card debt
than emergency savings” and “people’s ability to save up for a rainy day and
keep a handle on credit card debt… hasn’t improved...”
This inability to save is a symptom of poor discipline. "As people acquire more money, they
almost immediately start purchasing things that they've felt they've always
wanted rather than thinking about what percentages that they should put away
and the [favorable] consequences of changing their spending habits."
The same behavior patterns related to discipline affect cell
phone abuse/addiction. Within 20 years
of their introduction, Americans seem not to be able to live without a phone in
their pocket. Loud conversations
intended for others and ringing noises in the middle of meetings, movies, and church services interrupt our daily lives.
Talkers and texters behind the wheel pose a danger to themselves and to others. I don’t recall in the 1980s seeing people
lined up at telephone booths because they couldn’t wait to talk to a friend or
relative. Reading while driving was
considered outrageous and very dangerous, not a common occurrence. Now that it’s so easy, people can’t seem to
resist. When the behavioral model is
applied, the similarity between cell phones and credit cards is striking and
the solutions are the same.
Discipline is about delayed gratification. Whether the issue is overeating, lack of
exercise, smoking, gambling, texting while driving, or overspending, stronger
behavior in one area will carry over to the others. Discipline applies to all these problems and
more, just as problematic behavior in the other dimensions explain many of the
consequences we now complain about and often look to others to fix.
James, I'm with ya! Great blog, common sense is in short supply nowdays!
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