Author Name: Carribean Channel, Cuba TV.
This story was originally published on canalcaribe.ict.cu. [1]
The Tinder Swindler: the subtle deception of the Cinderella story – Canal Caribe
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Date: 2022-02
These days the social networks are around and the new material from Netflix, I am Georgina, is circulating through the package, an audiovisual that aims to show the world the story of Georgina Rodríguez, the wife of soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, and in the words of its own protagonist also “demonstrate that beyond the luxuries, yachts and mansions they are ordinary people”, like the viewer.
Does she have any special talent? No. Did she have a professional or artistic career of merit (pre-Christian?) No. Does her life tell us much? Neither, but well since it’s Sunday, I’ll tell you: The 28-year-old Spanish woman was a saleswoman at a Gucci store, where one day she met the star of Manchester United FC. They fell in love, they formed a family and now she lives, like so many others, from fame on social networks and the world of entertainment.
Actually, watching the six chapters of this docuseries does not change your life nor does it give you any particular teaching. However, it is curious how in the 21st century the story of Cinderella continues to fascinate so many people; and even, although it seems laughable, there are those who bet that one day Prince Charming will appear and come into your life to love you, make you happy and solve everything materially for you. Don´t you believe me?
Another Netflix material that is giving a lot to talk about is The Tinder Swindler. The documentary publicly exposes Shimon Hayut, a hustler who, under the name of Simon Leviev, seduced his victims through the dating app Tinder, invited them on expensive dates to gain their trust, and then scammed them.
Hayut, who bragged about his luxurious lifestyle on social networks, convinced them to make him large loans of money to help him pay off debts that even “endangered his life.” Thus he managed to steal ten million dollars. After being charged, Hayut was sentenced to 15 months in prison, of which he only served five.
Since the premiere of this audiovisual, criticism has rained down on social networks against the scammed young women for their lack of judgment, lucidity and suspicion in the face of the lies of Shimon Hayut aka Simon Leviev. And although, as spectators, all of this man’s theater seems like an obvious Machiavellian plan, the Mexican psychotherapist and thanatologist Mario Guerra explains in detail why we are all susceptible to being deceived in one way or another.
In an interview with the Aztec station W Radio, Guerra states that when analyzing this story, we must take into account the high degree of persuasion and manipulation of a sociopath, and on the other hand, a set of needs and cognitive biases that led these girls to believe and obey him.
“Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts that have been useful evolutionarily because they have allowed us to make decisions more quickly. For example, we like what we like. It makes us have more confidence in someone who we perceive is like us, and who shares our values and desires. Leviev’s victims felt a ‘powerful bond’ because he reflected their goals, desires and values as his own. He listened, but not because he cared, but to reflect what his victims wanted to see.¨
The Mexican psychotherapist points out that the desire for a romantic partner, or obtaining an unexpected gain, turns off our judgment, making a potential victim more vulnerable to social influence.
On the other hand, the scammer activated in them a psychological sense of obligation and social norm that makes us much more likely to give when we have already received. “By inviting them to expensive restaurants and giving them gifts, Leviev not only established his credibility, but also created a situation where his victims would ‘owe’ him later,” says Mario Guerra, adding that the victims also created a great fear of losing the alleged Fairy Tale Prince to the threat of his enemies. “You had to help him, so as not to lose him.”
Also, there is the confirmation bias: human beings tend to believe more in the things we want to believe. “If the person appears who is apparently highly coveted socially and also tells us what we want to hear, why should we doubt his ‘honesty’?” questions the psychotherapist.
Finally, there is social validation and the wow factor. Shimon Hayut had a network of contacts that legitimized his economic and personal status in the eyes of his victims: “You expect a stranger to want to swindle you or steal your money, but you have a hard time accepting that a person with his profile, with whom you have been and has shown interest and affection to you, can hurt you like this.”
Mario Guerra concludes:
“Scammed women are not stupid, they are usually people like you and me who make decisions based on reality that, in this case, the scammer had painted them with great detail and planning. It is a form of abuse. “When you’re out of a situation like that, it’s like watching a sports play in slow motion multiple times. Everything becomes very clear to you and you question everything. When you’re on the pitch, things go at a different speed and it’s hard to see clearly”.
Now, with everything and this, why is the story of Blue Prince, the castle and happily ever after still so attractive? Very simple… Because if, according to the media and the entertainment industry, beyond luxuries, yachts and mansions there are ordinary people, who knows that one day, we ordinary people may have luxuries, yachts and mansions. In other words, happiness and fulfillment are only possible in the world of the rich.
(C) Cuba TV, Cuban state owned media.
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