A powerful and tragic example of this psychology is the pervasive ownership of guns and gun-violence in America. Research over many years shows convincingly that owning a gun is far more likely to place a person at risk versus providing protection. Second amendment supporters simply reject and refute research data that shows that gun ownership puts owners and others at risk. Its not the data and facts that drive behavior, it’s the belief system and in-group camaraderie that is most powerful.
What kinds of people lie?
Many years ago, while in high school (in Johannesburg South Africa), one of us [KW] became fascinated by a new school pupil who arrived late in the school year. He struggled to make friends and tried to fit in by telling amazing stories of travels throughout the world (his father was extremely wealthy and these stories initially sounded feasible). Months later, these stories collapsed as the truth of his father’s failed business dealings became known. This young boy used these fabricated stories to gain attention and feel important amongst the rather “clique-ish” groups of teenagers in this high-school. People lie for many different reasons. (Wood, 2022)
The long history of Steven Hatfill continues here. As a reminder, Steven Hatfill is an American physician, pathologist and biological weapons expert. He became the subject of extensive media coverage beginning in mid-2002, when he was a suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks. His home was repeatedly raided by the FBI, his phone was tapped, and he was extensively surveilled for more than two years; he was also fired from his job at Science Applications International Corporation.
At a news conference in August 2002, Hatfill denied that he had anything to do with the anthrax letters and said: “irresponsible news media coverage based on government leaks” had “destroyed his reputation”. He filed a lawsuit in 2003, accusing the FBI agents and Justice Department officials who led the criminal investigation of leaking information about him to the press in violation of the Privacy Act. In 2008, the government officially exonerated Hatfill of any involvement in the anthrax attacks.
Following the November 2020 election, Hatfill became an active participant in then-president Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results, flying to Arizona to help challenge its election results, writing proposals for “Trump’s Legal Fight”, and sharing anti-Biden rumors.
What should be remembered is that Hatfill originally submitted his Ph.D. thesis for examination to Rhodes University in January 1995, but it was failed in November. Hatfill later claimed to have completed a Ph.D. degree in “molecular cell biology” at Rhodes, as well as a post-doctoral fellowship (1994–95) at the University of Oxford in England and three master’s degrees (in microbial genetics, medical biochemistry, and experimental pathology), respectively. Some of these credentials have been seriously questioned or disputed.
During a later investigation, officials at Rhodes maintained that their institution had never awarded him a Ph.D. (In 2007, Hatfill’s lawyer Tom Connolly in his lawsuit against former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and the FBI – admitted that his client (Hatfill) had “Puffed on his resume. Absolutely. Forged a diploma. Yes, that’s true.”). Despite these deceptions, Hatfill was convincing enough and considered legitimate enough to be hired into one of the most influential consulting positions in the US government during the Trump presidency, eventually “becoming an active participant in Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results, flying to Arizona to help challenge its election results, writing proposals for “Trump’s Legal Fight”, and sharing anti-Biden rumors.
