MONTREAL, Jan. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In 1825,
John Quincy Adams signed a treaty
that required Native Americans in Georgia to relinquish their claim on their
land. It was a decision he regretted almost immediately, later
declaring such policies to be "among the heinous sins of this
nation." Principles are a guidance system: they help people
navigate sticky situations, encourage forethought, and prevent
actions that could lead to guilt and regret, hence the term, "moral
compass".
Going against these principles not only make people unhappy,
according to a study conducted by PsychTests, they can also wreak
havoc with a person's self-esteem, self-trust, and general attitude
towards life.
Analyzing data collected from 12,259 people who took the
Emotional Intelligence Test, PsychTests' researchers compared
people who regularly override their principles to those who
typically stick with them. Here's where they differed:
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY GO AGAINST THEIR PRINCIPLES TEND TO BE
NEGATIVE AND CYNICAL
> 52% are pessimists who tend to expect the worst of situations
and people (compared to 25% of people who don't go against their
principles).
> 46% prefer not to get their hopes up so that they don't end up
disappointed (compared to 25% of people who don't go against their
principles).
> 42% often keep themselves up at night ruminating about
problems (compared to 20% of people who don't go against their
principles).
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY GO AGAINST THEIR PRINCIPLES TEND TO HAVE
SELF-ESTEEM ISSUES
> 38% don't see themselves as being special or important
(compared to 10% of people who don't go against their
principles).
> 42% don't bother to set goals for themselves because they
don't believe they have the skills to achieve them (compared to 6%
of people who don't go against their principles).
> 35% feel they don't deserve any of the success they have
attained (compared to 7% of people who don't go against their
principles).
> 45% downplay their achievements (compared to 24% of people who
don't go against their principles).
> 46% chastise and insult themselves when they mess up (compared
to 13% of people who don't go against their principles).
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY GO AGAINST THEIR PRINCIPLES DON'T TRUST
THEMSELVES
> 42% ignore their gut instinct, even when it's warning them of
a potential danger (compared to 21% of people who don't go against
their principles).
> 45% frequently experience self-doubt (compared to 17% of
people who don't go against their principles).
> 37% second-guess their decisions (compared to 16% of people
who don't go against their principles).
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY GO AGAINST THEIR PRINCIPLES TEND TO HAVE A
FOLLOWER MENTALITY
> 45% adopted the beliefs of their family/friends rather than
developing their own (compared to 13% of people who don't go
against their principles).
> 44% often pretend to agree with other people's point of view,
even when it starkly contrasts their own opinion (compared to 18%
of people who don't go against their principles).
> 44% change their attitude, behavior, or appearance in order to
please others (compared to 12% of people who don't go against their
principles).
> 42% have a need for approval and want to be liked by everyone
(compared to 34% of people who don't go against their
principles).
> 53% consistently put other people's needs ahead of their own
even when doing so creates resentment (compared to 36% of people
who don't go against their principles).
PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY GO AGAINST THEIR PRINCIPLES TEND TO BE
UNHAPPY
> 46% see their lives as being one problem after another
(compared to 13% of people who don't go against their
principles).
> 39% feel like they have no control over their lives (compared
to 10% of people who don't go against their principles).
> 46% can't figure out what they want out of life (compared to
19% of people who don't go against their principles).
> 40% often feel sad (compared to 9% of people who don't go
against their principles).
"When you go against your ethics or cast them aside in order to
please others, you create a sense of dissonance," explains Dr.
Ilona Jerabek, president of
PsychTests. "Sometimes, the guilt you feel will be enough to
discourage you from doing it again, but that's not always the case.
You may find yourself rationalizing the act of defying your
principles, even though deep down you know it feels wrong, and
that's where the danger lies. People who frequently behave contrary
to the direction of their moral compass suffer on an emotional and
psychological level. It eats away at them, because they know they
are not walking the path that they want. Your morals define who you
are, and when you go against them, you are battling your own
nature. Sticking to your moral code is a challenge, but it's a lot
harder living with yourself when you don't follow it."
Want to assess your EQ? Check out the Emotional Intelligence
Test at https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3979
Professional users, such as HR managers, coaches, and
therapists, can request a free demo for this or other assessments
from ARCH Profile's extensive battery:
http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1
To learn more about psychological testing, download this free
eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr
About PsychTests AIM Inc.
PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in
1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of
psychological assessment products and services to human resource
personnel, therapists and coaches, academics, researchers and a
host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc.
staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test
developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial
intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).
Media Contact
Ilona Jerabek, Ph.D, PsychTests
AIM Inc., 5147453189, ilona@psychtests.com
SOURCE PsychTests AIM Inc.