The Key To The Con
Fascinating piece over at Psychology Today, a magazine rejuvenated and turned into in an exciting, science-based read by my friend Kaja Perina. Neuroeconomist Paul J. Zak, director of the Claremont Center for Neuroeconomics Studies, blogs about his experience getting conned in high school with "The Pigeon Drop." That's when somebody uses something that appears to be of value (but which really isn't) to get you to turn over something of actual value -- usually money -- because you think you're getting something for nothing or something for very little. (THOMAS is his wacky-ass name for oxytocin, which anthropologist Helen Fisher nicknamed "the cuddle chemical.") Basically, Zak says there's more than greed at work in becoming a mark for this con:
The key to a con is not that you trust the conman, but that he shows he trusts you. Conmen ply their trade by appearing fragile or needing help, by seeming vulnerable. Because of THOMAS, the human brain makes us feel good when we help others--this is the basis for attachment to family and friends and cooperation with strangers. "I need your help" is a potent stimulus for action.Let's break down the THOMAS hooks that caused me to get conned. The first hook was the desire to help the man get this nice gift to his undoubtedly sweet wife. He needed my help. The second was the man who wanted to give the necklace back but who was late for his interview. If only I could help him get that job. My THOMAS was in high-gear, urging me to reciprocate the trust I had been shown and help these people. Only then does greed kick in. Hey, I can help both men, make a wife happy, and walk away with $100-what a deal! Yes, suspend all suspicion and give up the cash. Cons often work better when a confederate poses as an innocent bystander who "just wants to help." We are social creatures after all, and we often do what others think we should do.
Here's Michael Shermer testing "The Pigeon Drop" with a professional con man:
Oh, and while we're on cons, here's one bajillions of people get suckered by -- astrology. I'm amazed when people ask me my "sign," as if it has some relevance. My sign? No parking, street cleaning. And frankly, my crankiness in my response surely tells you much more about me than knowing when and where I was born.
Phil Plait, on the Bad Astronomy blog explains why it's idiotic to believe in astrology. Longish piece, summed up here:
* There is no force, known or unknown, that could possibly affect us here on Earth the way astrologers claim. Known forces weaken too fast, letting one source utterly dominate (the Moon for gravity, the Sun for electromagnetism). An unknown force would allow asteroids and extrasolar planets to totally overwhelm the nearby planets.* Astrologers tend to rely on our ability to remember hits and forget misses. Even an accurate prediction may be simple chance.
* Study after study has shown that claims and predictions made by astrologers have no merit. They are indistinguishable from chance, which means astrologers cannot claim to have some ability to predict your life's path.
* There is harm, real harm, in astrology. It weakens further people's ability to rationally look at the world, an ability we need now more than ever.
Conclusion
Astrology is wrong.See? Told you I'd repeat it. That was one astrological prediction you could actually count on.
For a really substantive take on why belief in astrology is dumb, here's Ivan Kelly's The Concepts of Modern Astrology: a Critique.
Paul Newman and Robert Redford were more convincing!
Eric at November 24, 2008 8:13 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/11/24/the_key_to_the.html#comment-1607257">comment from EricBetter view, too!
Amy Alkon at November 24, 2008 8:21 AM
My sign? Grafeiokratis, the Fat-Bottomed Desk Jockey.
And don't tell me astrology doesn't work! My horoscope reads, "Today will be a good day, or maybe a bad one. Watch out for traffic." Come on! What could be truer than that?
old rpm daddy at November 24, 2008 8:57 AM
A little perspective might help to understand the astrology thing. The notion that events in the night sky directly influence human lives here on earth was not invented by con artists in the 19th century to separate suckers from their money. It goes right back to the dawn of mankind.
Cro-magnons were every bit as intelligent & perceptive as we are (google "Lascaux" or "Altamira"). But if a comet or meteor streaked across the sky one night 30,000 years ago, and then the next day a pack of saber-tooth tigers killed & ate 3 children from the tribe, how would they have been able to resist the idea that the heavens really were an omen of fate? Most people today don't have a much better concept of what all those twinkling things in the night sky actually are than the cave-men did, so it's no wonder that this idea still persists.
Martin at November 24, 2008 9:28 AM
You're right, Martin.
Furthermore, remember that two of the heavenly bodies that appear to move against the backdrop of stars do have observable effects on earth. The seasons change with the sun, the tides with the moon.
You can see why people would generalize that all shifting heavenly lights--planets, comets, meteors--must cause changes on earth. Not a bad hypothesis, just bad data collecting and analysis.
Axman at November 24, 2008 9:43 AM
We are evolutionary hard wired to pay attention to cause and effect. Eat a poison mushroom-die. Have mice hang around –disease. We have a superstitious gene that contributes to learning and survival. That gene also makes us want to believe in astrology.
Many of the taboos are related to human survival in specific areas. In arid/semi-arid areas there is a prohibition against eating pork. Pigs need lots of water etc. they are resource expensive. Cows and goats just need grassy areas that may not grow anything else. In lusher areas there are no pork taboos.
We create mythologies and God commandments to keep the people in line.
David H at November 24, 2008 11:12 AM
My sign - "Slow children playing". :)
My wife says it describes me to a T.
wolfboy69 at November 24, 2008 11:31 AM
your friend should check out Derren Brown.
he's got dozens of videos up on youtube for his show that involve these very topics. fascinating stuff.
have always dug Schermer's work. didn't know he was hosting a tv show though.
farker at November 24, 2008 2:17 PM
Oh man, I've never heard of "The Pigeon Drop". That's a brutal con. I figure if you find a wallet, that returning it to the rightful owner will bring good karma because the moon is in scorpio and junk.
No, just jarshing about scorpio, but I'll tell you, when my wallet went missing from my trousers (which I was almost certain must have happened at the movie theater) it was a horrendous feeling. Lo and behold, the manager rang up and said they found my wallet. I didn't hesitate; I gave him twenty dollars right then and there. I figure it should be common policy for a business to return something like that, but you never know and I sure did appreciate it. Boy, I'll tell you.
Regarding Astrology, our "public safety reporter" at our local newspaper has a weblog at the online site, and it's pretty hilarious because it's fucking all about astrology. Blah, blah, blah...charts about some celebrity or artist. Whatever. I think it's comical and ridiculous.
Jason S. at November 24, 2008 5:31 PM
How about royal astrologers?
It's nice if they warn you there is a threat against your life, be it written in the stars or whispered anonymously to them by a courtier who would rather not reveal himself.
Then, you could make your royal astrologer read those stars again and find you some plotters.
Not a totally useless job description.
Now the rest of the stuff...yuck, even yuckier when applied to my little Mr. Foetus. "Oh, it'll be an Aries". Yeah, so?
Hipparchia at November 24, 2008 10:26 PM
Yea Jason S. Losing a wallet is horrible. I want to leave a little sign with my name and address in my wallet that say "take the money, return the wallet. Thanks" I thing more people who likely return the wallet.
Yes astrology is old same with prostition, war, murder. Does not mean that we have to continue to do that. Astrology should be a cultural artifact like thrashing your back with a whip to rsolve your sins or eating an enemies heart with give you courage.
John Paulson at November 25, 2008 3:41 AM
My sign is that of "Facetia", goddess of all things inane, improper and silly, like toilet humour, South Park, grocery coupons, and, oh yes, politicians! o.O
Flynne at November 25, 2008 6:06 AM
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