Alternative Theories

When a crime is committed and subsequently discovered it sets into motion a criminal justice system that begins with investigation and in some cases ends with the punishment of the person or persons responsible. From the beginning moments, the investigators try and match evidence with motive to produce multiple theories of the crime. Through a process of elimination they then begin to focus in on a list of prime suspects with the hopes of discovering the guilty party. The final theory of the crime and the defendant it produces will then control how the rest of the trial process develops. From the initial discovery of a crime until the disposition of the defendant the entire process centers-around different theories of what happened and who was involved. The investigators have theories that they distill down to one theory; the prosecutor explains that theory to the jury and tries to prove it to be true; the defense attorney offers up alternative theories in order to create reasonable doubt; the jury decides if they believe beyond a reasonable doubt the theory of the prosecutor or if the defense has raised enough questions through their presentation of alternative theories to create doubt. The system breaks down when alternative theories are discounted or dismissed without proper investigation. The premature singular focus on a particular theory can produce false results and foster erroneous accusations. The exploration of all alternative theories is the only way to make sure that personal bias does not taint conclusions.

In all of our lives we are face with problems, set-backs and disappointments. We all have our own trials and tribulations to face and try and understand. We all endure the internal struggles created by: the parent or teacher not listening, the school that did not accept us, the team not made, the group of peers unwilling to accept us, the failed relationship, the job we didn’t get, the promotion or raise given to another, the misunderstood statement, the unfounded accusation, the blame, the perceived slight, the affection not returned, the dismissive behavior of those in control, the impolite discourteous actions of others. We endure these events and experiences on a daily basis and like the criminal investigation we begin the process of trying to figure out the who and why. Unfortunately our own biases are built into our investigation from the start. It is partially caused by the fact that in our conscious and unconscious minds we are all of the players in the investigation and the conclusions rendered. We are the accused, the victim, the investigator, the prosecutor, the defense attorney, the jury, the judge, and the executioner. We are also burdened by our past experiences which have a tendency to produce a very finite amount of motives and therefore theories. Usually, like the bad investigator, we will latch onto the first theory that comes to mind and then begin building an inherently flawed case to support it.

In the instances where we have not achieved something tangible, like a raise at work or a spot on the team we may conclude that we have been cheated by the evil intent of a boss or coach. When an important relationship becomes a struggle or fails we might believe that we are somehow lacking or unworthy. These are the theories that are the easiest to access and because they come to the fore almost immediately they tend to drive the narrative in our consciousness. In reality these first emotional reactions that give rise our initial theory are in many cases not accurate and lead us away from the truth. A more accurate and emotionally satisfying approach is to place the initial reaction or theory of an event on hold as we allow ourselves to consider alternative theories. Perhaps we are not good enough to be on the team and it is time to place our efforts elsewhere. Could it be that the behaviors and motivations of others are mostly about them and really have nothing to do with us or our worth? Maybe what we are feeling is entirely fueled by our own insecurities and our only real problem is a lack of confidence. The possibility exists that our own unresolved guilt and regret are at the heart of our denial of some portion of culpability. In the heat of the moment the primal feelings and the instinctual reaction associated with an event have very little to do with our true motivations or the behaviors of others. Real clarity of motivation can only be found and understood through honest and unfettered introspection.

It is important to note that in a criminal proceeding a positive outcome for the defendant is to be found not guilty. The jury never proclaims and the court never finds a defendant to be innocent. It is also true that you are not an innocent bystander in your life. The motivations of how and why things occur in your life are multi-faceted but within that complexity there is always one constant, you. There are times when unforeseen calamity strikes but each of us is responsible for the majority of what occurs in our lives. By investigating all possible theories of why, without bias or fear, your truth can be discovered and then used to guide you to a better future. This can only be achieved by looking beyond the initial reactive theory and forcing oneself to consider and explore all alternative theories.