We do not judge other people so harshly for their wrongdoings if we know that we ourselves are capable of doing the same. This was shown by an experiment by psychologists at the University of Cleveland (USA).
We do not judge other people so harshly for their wrongdoings if we know that we ourselves are capable of doing the same. This was shown by an experiment by psychologists at the University of Cleveland (USA). They asked the students to read a poignant story about a freshman who gave away his roommate’s secret just because he hoped to gain credibility with the older students. Then they were asked: How easy is it for them to forgive such a student? “It turned out,” says Professor Julie Exline, head of the study, “that those who at the beginning of the experiment spoke about a similar story from their lives were much more lenient in their assessments. When we see that other people act in the same way as we do, anger and judgment give way to understanding and condescension.