Good People Do Not Usually Suspect The Evil Of Others

Sometimes we are innocent. We overlook double intentions, covert selfishness, or gift-wrapped falsehoods and kind deeds. That is, we do not stop to suspect that evil may be present in the interest of others.

In fact, there are those who tend to preach that of “think badly and you will be right”. What happens is that honest people choose to see the best of everything, what surrounds them, they do not usually have this vision of events.

Nobility of heart looks to the good side of people. You prefer to surrender, give second chances, and practice confidence. We invite you to reflect on it below.

Suspicious of covert evil?

The inclination to do good seems to be not very compatible with the tendency to perceive in a negative way what others do. However, there are situations in which the common benefit is far from being a priority. Let’s see some of them below.

Selfishness in disguise

In those cases in which the only thing that is sought is self-interest, ties are not built, bridges are not created, or ties are reinforced. These selfish people close themselves to the emotional openness that would involve considering the needs of others.

Furthermore, with such an attitude it will only be possible to achieve success, but never excellence. Thus, authors such as Howard Gardner, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and William Damon affirm it, prestigious psychologists who since 1996 have been developing the program known as The Good Project .

With this educational initiative, the aim is to combine ethics and good work, transmitting values ​​with which future generations pursue the well-being of society. Only in this way will true professionals be trained.

And the same occurs in the private and relational sphere, where “personal” excellence is also exclusive to the motivation to promote collective benefit and reciprocity.

However, for those who practice kindness, the guise of greed and individualism often goes unnoticed. And is that good intentions leave little or no space to go thinking about the “bad”.

False interests

Although at a given moment favors may be expected from those around us, it is trusted that these will be offered freely and voluntarily. However, with certain ulterior motives, there are those who do not hesitate to carry out deceptive behaviors  in order to achieve the goal they set out to do.

In fact, in studies such as the one carried out by Professor Robert Feldman and other scientists at the University of Massachusetts, it is found that the probability of lying is greater in those circumstances in which it is intended to achieve a goal.

Among such faults, the truth includes from omissions, exaggerations and even serious falsehoods that mask the true purpose of the one who applies them. Although the so-called “white lies” may occur, the “big lies” also take place, which become quite painful when discovered.

And it is that, characterized by frankness and naturalness, people of noble heart do not repair to suspect the evil of this false interest. Furthermore, the selfishness behind such covert behavior is often difficult to anticipate or intuit.

On the other hand, manipulation is typical of someone trying to make a profit at the expense of the trust of another. In this process, the first takes advantage of the empathy of the second, awakening feelings that predispose him to accept their explanations.

And what happens when you suspect evil?

The recognition of the malice of others or the double intention is just the moment in which the deception occurs. Fortunately or unfortunately, the heart of a good person is more vulnerable to this experience of pain after being deceived.

But even though one may feel naive, both selfishness and covert interest are learning opportunities that life presents to us. Therefore, it will be more constructive, assuming them as such, without falling into self-recrimination or pessimism.

That is, despite the fact that others decide to undertake such acts, the possibility of continuing to grow and take care of the emotional balance is there to receive us and shelter us whenever we want. Let’s follow the path we want, without that kind of “potholes” changing us.