In this blog of Transparency we have discussed classical texts related to the lack of transparency in government and we have reported facts. In this blog we will deal with some assumptions about the psychology of the corrupt.

The serious economic and social situation in Europe, particularly in southern Europe, has one of its roots in the corruption that has grown under the lack of transparency of some governments. This situation has put the current topic and start running a growing number of psychological studies about it.

Aristotle said that “anyone who does not blush of the evil it does is a miserable” Within human misery corruption is a perverse form and evil produced the aggravating has the intentionality, personal gain and do under the public function mechanisms.

Some psychologists say there are two types of blush: external and internal. The first obligation to publicly acknowledge the poorly produced and the second requires recognition to self, damage caused to another. However it has been shown that the corrupt are miserable without ability to feel the flush and therefore lack the ability to repentance and the possibility of repair. Therefore, to correct the situation, it is only the application of the law but practice shows that in cases of political corruption, nobody resigns, nobody is ashamed of what he has done, no one admits their mistakes or faults, everything is sent to procedural dynamics. The corrupt, politics, sports, finance, professional activity ….. trying to hide in silence waiting hopefully not be charged.

Plato also had pointed his opinion on the story of the ring of Gyges, a ring that had the power to become invisible to whoever wore and because he committed all kinds of crimes. Such are the shameless act with impunity in the hope that it will not be his fault imputed. They do not feel shame because the law will not deserve any respect. Moreover Some people use the law as an instrument to act criminally.

Thus we conclude that is a miserable corrupt with aggravating intent of personal gain and to do under the mechanisms of the civil service, which Gyges ring, no external nor internal blushing feeling, and to which the law does not deserve any respect, reason why has not resigned.

Now we must ask two questions:

(1) Why do states allow this situation and the activities of the corrupt?

In blog number 1 of Transparency,  Thucydides gives us his observations:

“And actually, blood ties became less solid than the game, because in the field it was more willing to be daring without reservation. Indeed, such associations were not constituted in accordance with applicable laws with a view to the common good, but that violated for the sake of lust for power. “

“In fact, the leaders of the parties of the various cities, using both sides of beautiful words (according to your preference for equality of all citizens before the law or the wisdom of the aristocracy), and trying by word to serve public interest made ​​him drop from their struggles. And in their struggles to prevail by any means on their respective dare over his enemy they do the most terrible actions, pursuing vendettas even more cruel, because not executed within the limits of justice and the public interest. “As citizens who occupied an intermediate position, perished at the hands of both faction: either because they participated in their struggles, either out of envy that they could survive.”

Therefore the lie without shame, is not just political, it also affects personal relationships. Egoism becomes legitimized modus operandi, there is an erosion of the sense of shame, because shame presupposes a possibility of being responsible for one another. This leads us to ask, what are the social and cultural processes responsible for this situation? It seems that you are getting forge a civic fabric by the disappearance of certain social emotions such as shame and guilt and from public institutions is not struggle enough to establish civil control of the “res publica”. Consequently feelings of justice (understood as peer relationships) or the perception of injustice have disappeared. Thus we come to the disheartening conclusion that the creation and development of the former states lies a seed of egoism (the state is attributed selfishly powers invading the private sphere) to justify all kinds of atrocities and on which the public should remain vigilant. Psychologists therefore recommend the practical exercise of virtue by a citizenry able to practice as such, because, without the requirement of a social structure of virtue, this is not possible.

2) What leads a person to become a miserable corrupt?

The question is, in fact, intentionally badly formulated. The question is twofold: Converts state corrupt people with ability to blush? o who have an innate lack of ability to blush servants disguise themselves to exercise their misery under the protection of Gyges ring of impunity of public administration?

For some psychologists society inhibits the development of feelings of shame and guilt but for others there is a genetic psychologists and cultural leading to the decision to commit a crime. According to the second school, the Humans are born immature, in developing nervous system and in childhood are two significant moments in the choice of future options. Around five years the human brain defines a portrait of future partner predilections and around nine years the human brain defines a portrait of future work commitment predilections. Although both predilections must adapt to the availability in the case of work commitment, the State offers multiple options available. With this we can conclude that the corrupt wretch freely choose this option and it is in a state structures almost endless options.

Yet in Transparency believe there is hope, the creation of a civic consciousness that results civic movement demanding transparency in the public and force the state to be the first servant of the citizens and the first law-abiding for the good common. Some countries have done it, others can too.