A634.3.4.RB - The Harder They Fall

When it comes to personal values and a sense of ethics or morality, I've always prescribed to the slippery slope theory. This idea -- that one small indiscretion makes way for a slightly larger indiscretion, and so on -- doesn't always apply to every case (some fanatics bring it to an extreme when they argue against things like civil rights, for instance). But I've seen it in play in my own life, in a variety of ways. The same way that modern audiences, after decades of seeing escalated versions of violence in horror films, can become desensitized to movie gore, the same phenomenon, I believe, can happen in other spheres.

At the risk of appearing to take a political stance, let's talk about President Donald Trump. I've seen both a slippery slope effect, as well as themes from Kramer's article (2003) in his campaign for president, and in how the public seems to receive him. In the 1970s and 1980s, Trump's fame increased for a few different reasons but, mainly, because his business deals were becoming larger and more newsworthy, and second, because he was becoming more of an outspoken public figure. It can be argued, though, that it was the brashness with which he conducted himself in those arenas that grabbed the most attention. Whether it was for criticizing then-Mayor of New York Ed Koch on national TV or financing hotel-casinos that a slew of finance writers deemed impossible to make profitable, Trump was all over the news, and he became a household name.

"During the high-tech boom, we saw risk-taking and rule breaking as markers of good leadership. As a result, we often ended up with leaders who lacked the prudence, sense of proportion, and self-restraint needed to cope with the trappings of power"" (Kramer, 2003). The first part of this statement inarguably holds true for how many in the public began to see Trump. He was nontraditional and surprising, and a certain degree of respect came along with that. The second part of the statement -- about those kinds of leaders lacking restraint or prudence -- is more up for debate. 

Nevertheless, Trump's celebrity grew and, eventually, he became president. What I wonder, though, is about the dilemma voters faced when he won the Republican nomination. Especially after audio was leaked of Trump making explicit sexual remarks, conservative voters had to decide: How much do I weigh Trump's faults, which I oppose, against his policies, which I support? Also, how much did his actions the four decades prior offer a slippery slope that made his modern indiscretions easier to shrug off? 

As Kramer argues: "The most ambitious and competitive players in winner-take-all markets often perceive that introspection is antithetical to success. As a result, these individuals develop a dangerous aversion to moderation" (Kramer, 2003). This can be seen in the opulence of Trump's brand or the serial-like we he launched new firms and bought companies. On a slightly smaller scale, this sentiment can also be seen in professional athletes' use of performance-enhancing drugs. 

In the 1990s, many, many baseball players were exposed to be using steroids. In the sport's world, it was viewed as an epidemic. But, in a way, their use of banned substances was understandable, even logical. Who's more competitive than a professional athlete? When one's drive for victory overshadows their desire to behave ethically, "getting an edge" over the competition becomes the top priority. Reflecting on the rightness or wrongness of the action comes later.

These examples might be extreme, but they help us to better analyze our own daily ethical dilemmas by giving us the opportunity to examine more dramatic ones as objective third-parties. By doing so, we're able to translate what we've learned onto our own lives. I personally might not have to struggle with decisions on whether or not to take steroids or build a replica of the Taj Mahal, but these examples can serve as road signs for me as I advance through my career, serving as reminders to think -- always think -- if a given action is one that I would condone today, or if another person were in my place.
References

Kramer, R. M. (2003). The Harder They Fall (cover story). Harvard Business Review, 81(10), 58-66.

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