The Laws of Human Nature

Greene explores the deep psychological forces that drive human behavior, revealing how unconscious impulses, biases, and desires shape decision-making, often leading individuals toward self-deception, irrationality, and destructive patterns. Specifically, Greene argues that human nature lies at the center of some of humanity’s most confounding and troubling behaviors. In financial bubbles like the South Sea bubble, people become drawn in by the promise of large sums of money. Greene explains that humans are wired to focus on the present moment, and so in situations like a financial bubble, they “are no longer aware of why or how things come about” and “no longer give thought to the possible consequences of anything we set in motion” (158). People are drawn by the idea of instant gratification, which has only worsened since the emergence of the internet. The rise of social media, fast-paced stock trading, and instant access to financial speculation have heightened impulsive decision-making, reinforcing humanity’s tendency to chase immediate rewards without considering long-term effects. This reflects a core truth of Greene’s work—human nature does not fundamentally change, but external factors can amplify its most reckless tendencies.

The complex psychology of human behavior is also present in historical and contemporary events of people who seemed decent and good, but who later revealed strong, dark sides. In these cases, such as the revelation of Nixon’s corruption during the Watergate Scandal, it is often the result of people’s shadow selves coming to light. People often make destructive decisions based on drives that stem from birth and early childhood. Greene argues that Nixon being “an unusually needy” infant and “notorious crybaby” shows that he struggled with a feeling that he did not get enough attention, leading him to become especially attention-seeking, narcissistic, and anxious as an adult (239). He also had a neglectful father and a somewhat distracted and melancholy mother, possibly contributing to an anxious and insecure shadow with an insufficient sense of self. The repression of these insecurities ultimately caused an internal split, where Nixon’s public persona of strength and confidence directly contradicted his private self-doubt and paranoia. This internal contradiction became a driving force behind his downfall, demonstrating Greene’s argument that unexamined aspects of the psyche can spiral into destructive behavior. As he continued to try to repress this shadow and present himself as a strong, masculine man, it became more vicious and aggressive.

Narcissistic behavior also often stems from childhood. Deep narcissists are often the children of narcissistic parents or “enmeshers” who are either not involved enough or too negatively involved in their children’s lives (44). In addition, childhood troubles can create troubling adult behavior in the form of fostering aggression. Melanie Klein’s study shows that greedy and needy babies often grow up to become aggressive adults, “with a greater need to control everything around them” (495). For example, Rockefeller’s aggressive behavior as an adult was likely fueled by a childhood spent in poverty with an unreliable father. Greene argues that Rockefeller saw the oil industry as being “like his father—exciting, promising sudden riches, but tremendously unpredictable” (487). In Rockefeller’s mind, taking control of the oil industry “would be like conquering the father himself” (487). This interpretation suggests that power and financial dominance are often more than mere economic pursuits; they can be deeply personal, rooted in childhood trauma and a subconscious need to rectify past instability. Many of history’s most dominant figures have been driven by a desire to rewrite their early struggles through control, influence, and wealth, reinforcing Greene’s thesis that our psychological underpinnings shape the course of our lives.