I have always found human behaviour fascinating. Especially strange behaviors or patterns that are out of character etc.
This afternoon I watched a movie about these men who were “likeable criminals”. Now logic and common-sense tell us that criminals are bad, I mean if they stole off you would you like them? If they hit you would you like them?
So the criminal is someone that we don’t want to have around us because of all the harm that they could do us. We don’t like the sin but we do love the sinner.
The Stockholm Syndrome is when hostages feel sympathy or a liking for those who capture them. The captives can be sexually abused, beaten and badly treated, but over time they can get to know their captives and then grow to have sympathetic and/or positive feelings for them – a relationship is made. When done carefully the victims will go to great lengths to help their abusers.
Sex abusers can groom children in the same sort of way. By convincing the child that it is alright to do the indecent acts with them, while creating a relationship with the child. This can last well into adulthood and for an entire lifetime. Mother-Daughter sex abuse is like this and the daughter will stick up for her mother strongly because the daughter is so brainwashed into believing that it was all natural.
For years I have marveled at how Hollywood has made the criminal so likeable and we can feel sorry for them, and even when they are doing criminal activities the audience is supporting the criminals, and not really thinking about the Police (the real heroes) or even the victims (the ones that really deserve our sympathy).
While watching the movie this afternoon the word, “Stockholm Syndrome” came to my mind.
The story-line of these movies is made in such a way that we are to like the criminals, we bond with them in sympathy and emotionally by seeing the characters in their homes and with their family problems before they pull of their crime. If the criminal is poor them we can sympathize with wanting more money and we don’t blame them when they are to rob a bank or steal paintings etc.
If we feel a bit guilty for backing up the bad guys then we can remind ourselves that it is only a movie, it is only entertainment. Its not real so why get all stressed up about it. These are excuses for weakness.
We are convinced that the movie criminal is just like you and I [even though in real life they are not]), and we eventually get to the stage where we are hoping that the criminals get away with the daring crimes that they are planning and committing, even though we know that they are bringing some form of injustice against innocent people or companies, and they are breaking the laws of the land.
It is in the criminals favor that they are played by famous movie stars that the audience like anyway. It seems that the fact that these criminals are doing things that we wouldn’t think are right, or just, or what we would not want anyone to do to us, doesn’t matter. What matters is that the “willing to be entertained audience” is nudged, into accepting what they already know is wrong – brainwashed.
Add some romance, and comedy to the movie and the criminal is “human” and supported by the public.
The thing here is that if we are easily led to like the bad guys in movies is it any wonder that we are easily led astray by politicians etc.
We should have strong enough values and beliefs that won’t allow us to support the criminal element in any form except to help change their lives for better.
Some people may say that I am a spoil-sport writing this, but imagine your children watching what you are watching on TV? If you think it is fine to watch such things and support the criminals (for entertainment purposes only) the child will grow up seeing your actions as “acceptance”.
Society as it is today with all its wrongs started to be like this because peoples values and strong boundaries between right and wrong became less and less.
Part of self correction is being hard on yourself and using wisdom. Also ask yourself whether Jesus would laugh along at the criminal movie with you wishing that the criminals get away with their crimes. If you think that Jesus would then you are only fooling yourself.
Be in control of your own mind. If you think that something is wrong in a movie then have no part of it. You will feel good for making a strong stand and re-evaluating your feelings, thoughts and life, and then acting strongly for what you believe in.
All the best from James M Sandbrook.
Friday, 19 February 2016, 8:24:32 PM.