The Devil's Shift

I liked this post on From the Archives, referred by Marginal Revolution.

Are people inherently "loss-oriented thinkers"? This is an aspect of state schooling/brainwashing, rather than an inherent human property.

Due to "loss-oriented thinking", people remember their losses more than their gains. People try to "avoid losing" more than they try to win.

Over time, this leads you to assume that your opponents are omnipotent liars. This is called the "Devil's Shift".

This is *NOT* natural human behavior. It is an aspect of state brainwashing.

It is built into the rules of the economic system. Someone who makes a mistake and loses their job is heavily punished. Someone who performs brilliant work goes unrewarded in a wage-slave job. Why would anyone accept any risk when they are punished for losses but not rewarded for gains?