Feelings, Brain and Prevention of Corruption

International Journal of Psychology Research, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2008

17 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2009

See all articles by Eduardo Salcedo-Albaran

Eduardo Salcedo-Albaran

METODO; Vortex Foundation

Isaac de León-Beltrán

METODO - Transdisciplinary Research Group on Social Sciences

Mauricio Rubio

METODO

Date Written: July 19, 2008

Abstract

In this paper we propose an answer for the question: why, sometimes, people don’t perceive corruption as a crime? To answer this question we use a neurological and a psychological concept. As humans, we experience our emotions and feelings in first person, but the neuropsychological mechanism known as “mirror neurons” makes possible to simulate emotions and feelings of others. It means that our emotions and feelings are linked with emotions and feelings of others. When mirror areas in the brain are activated we can understand and simulate in first person the actions, emotions and feelings of people. Because of these areas, the observer’s brain acts “as if” it was experiencing the same action or the same feeling that is perceived. Each organism establishes causal relations to understand, manipulate and move in the world. Causal relations can be classified as simple or complex. In a simple causal relation, cause and effect are close in space and time. When cause and effect are not close in space and time, the causal relation is complex. When perceiving or committing homicide, a simple causal relation is enough for identifying a victim, but when perceiving or committing a public corruption crime, a complex causal relation must be established for identifying a victim. When seeing someone committing bribe there is no an evident victim. If persons can’t identify victims of public corruption crimes, then they will not generate empathy feelings. When a victim is not identified and perceived, there is no reason for thinking that harm is being inflicted and mirror areas in the brain are not activated.

Keywords: Corruption, Brain, Emotions, Mirror Neurons, Theory of Mind, Feelings

Suggested Citation

Salcedo-Albarán, Eduardo and de León-Beltrán, Isaac and Rubio, Mauricio, Feelings, Brain and Prevention of Corruption (July 19, 2008). International Journal of Psychology Research, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1391104

Vortex Foundation ( email )

United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.scivortex.org

Isaac De León-Beltrán

METODO - Transdisciplinary Research Group on Social Sciences ( email )

Colombia

Mauricio Rubio

METODO ( email )

Bogotá
Colombia

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