The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.
Even though I do not agree with many psychological principles, I have to admit that this one is true, for the most part. It takes a lot of work to change patterns of behavior that go back to childhood, or that are inherited. When you add to this, other ways in which people are mentally manipulated – the media, the entertainment industry and the educational system – then this makes an already gargantuan task, far more difficult.
The meaning of this tenet is as follows: people will respond in the same way every time they face the same type of situation. For example, someone who cannot effectively deal with their anger will either externalize it in an abusive way, or internalize it which leads to depression.
What I have discovered over the years is that the victimized are more likely to change their ways than the victimizers. This is because they do not have anything to gain by continuing to remain in that state. The victimizers tend to be takers who thrive on dominating others, so they have everything to lose if they change. Even if they feel some guilt when they realize what they have done, they very quickly go back to what they have always done. I went into detail about this phenomenon here.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. ~ Maya Angelou
Helen
