Shrink Rap: Jiminy Cricket's Lost in a Thicket

At the end of a RealMoney.com column last week, Jim Cramer offered the following:

"I was struck by a reporter's statement about how nothing really has gotten better and that Wall Street is just going to get back to its old tricks as soon as it can. I don't agree with that. You know why? Because when you are pictured in the paper as a crook, it breaks your heart and your spirit, especially if you have kids. Most people pictured in The New York Times as someone who did something wrong feel totally and utterly vilified. And if they go to jail? For the most part, their lives are over. Things have changed because humiliation, despair, embarrassment and loss of work always are going to be powerful motivators to do the right thing."

I would argue that it depends on the character structure of the potential wrongdoer. I think we'd agree that once someone is portrayed as a criminal, he is less likely to repeat the behavior that has caused the humiliation. At least that's what we'd expect from those whose lives are so altered by the experience that they will do whatever is necessary to avoid having it happen again. ...