Contents
“We are all amazingly able to rationalize our behavior and explain any of our actions. This also applies to officials. That is why they do not consider themselves criminals.” Alas, all the answers to this question are unanimous.
Mikhail Zygar, editor-in-chief of the Dozhd TV channel
“One of the main conclusions of my book1 is that the presidential entourage consists of very different people, each of whom believes that he is absolutely right, that he is doing very important and correct things. This applies even to those who in some circles are considered villains and scoundrels. And in personal communication this is noticeable: they do not look like angry, cynical people at all. There is something spiritual in almost everyone with whom I talked.
Read more:
- Why cheat yourself?
You can be a crook and a thief and think that you are saving Russia. And in general, no one steals money, but simply works so hard for the good of the Motherland that he receives a fair reward. In addition, this happens within the framework of an honest contract with the head. And yes, it doesn’t matter at all! “What difference does it make, what kind of money is there?!” – I’m sorry that I can not convey the condescendingly irritated intonation with which it is pronounced. “Well, why count money?! The main thing is that I give all of myself, all my efficiency and my mind, so that the country is great!”
Does a person have the ability to convince himself of anything? – Yes. Moreover, a person who has done something nasty can convince himself that he did not do it or that it was not him. Or he was defending himself. Or he had no other choice. Or he sacrificed himself so that nothing more terrible would happen.
Read more:
- How do you keep yourself out of conflict?
“The human mind has an amazing ability to rationalize its behavior and explain any of its actions. This also applies to officials, so the answer is “yes”: they do not consider themselves criminals.”
Volodya Berkhin, President of the Tradition Charitable Foundation
“The question is what does it mean to “consider yourself a criminal”. I think that formally everyone understands when they break the law. Especially when you consider that these people are professional bureaucrats whose success directly depends on the ability to understand documents.
But at the same time, everyone who formally breaks the law, as a rule, has a good reason to do it – “it’s so right,” “it’s fair,” “I can’t do otherwise,” “too important things are at stake,” “yes, you should know how they steal upstairs” and so on.
It is normal human behavior to find rational or other reasons for what is beneficial.”
Read more:
- How do perceptual illusions arise?
Anton Tkachev, psychologist
“Of course, a person thinks and interprets facts in the way that is convenient for him – this also applies to memories and attitudes towards people, this happens with everyone. Man is constantly inventing new ways to justify himself. And yes, in some ways all officials are very good people.”
See the original answer at TheQuestion service.
1 Author of the book “All the Kremlin’s Army” (Intellectual Literature, 2016).