We like to think of ourselves, our friends, and our families as decent people.
Miller uses this recent psychological literature to explain what the notion of Character really means today, and how we can use this new understanding to develop a Character better in sync with the kind of people we want to be..
Much depends on cues in our social environment.
Yet it is also true that there will be many times when we will selflessly come to the aid of a complete stranger - and resist the urge to lie, cheat, or steal even if we could get away with it.
On the one hand, most of us in a group of bystanders will do nothing as someone cries out for help in an emergency.
Instead, Miller argues, we are a mixed bag.
But neither are most of us cruel or dishonest.
Hundreds of recent studies in psychology tell a different story: that we all have serious Character flaws that prevent us from being as Good as we think we are - and that we do not even recognize that these flaws exist.
Miller argues here that we are badly mistaken in thinking this.
We may not be saints, but we are still honest, relatively kind, and mostly trustworthy.
We like to think of ourselves, our friends, and our families as decent people
