Why is that when we do something good, we feel licensed to do something bad? I ran three miles yesterday, so I felt entitled to a bagel with cream cheese. I saved $12.43 through selective shopping of sale items so I splurged on some fresh flowers. Or I drink a diet soda with a cheeseburger. How do we ever get ahead if good habits become excuses for bad ones? Believe it or not, social psychologists and marketers call this behavior self-licensing or moral self-licensing. It’s a Thing!! And the marketers use it against us! Buy our luxury, gas-guzzling SUV and we’ll take $1,000 off the price and give it to Children’s Hospital.
Yikes. I am apparently morally weak. I am an environmental professional that believes in climate change and yet I would not give up my hot tub because I have converted to LED lights in many places and replaced leaky windows with energy-efficient ones. But since I have LED lights, I confess I sometimes am casual about leaving them on because they are so much more energy efficient.
I hate that this is a Thing and I am as guilty of it as everyone else. How very human. But I suppose consciousness of our vulnerability to this way of thinking is probably the best way to limit its more deleterious effects. I am air-drying my clothes today AND donating some things I no longer wear to the thrift shop WITHOUT buying those cute new pair of shoes I've had my eye on.
Yikes. I am apparently morally weak. I am an environmental professional that believes in climate change and yet I would not give up my hot tub because I have converted to LED lights in many places and replaced leaky windows with energy-efficient ones. But since I have LED lights, I confess I sometimes am casual about leaving them on because they are so much more energy efficient.
I hate that this is a Thing and I am as guilty of it as everyone else. How very human. But I suppose consciousness of our vulnerability to this way of thinking is probably the best way to limit its more deleterious effects. I am air-drying my clothes today AND donating some things I no longer wear to the thrift shop WITHOUT buying those cute new pair of shoes I've had my eye on.