“It takes an extraordinarily heartless conman to swindle a survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald and Nobel Peace Prize winner out of all his charitable funds.” Wrote James Bone in the Times Online.
“Yet that is exactly what Bernard “Bernie” Madoff is alleged to have done to Elie Wiesel, the author of the Holocaust classic Night and a friend from the Jewish community in south Florida.
According to the Times Online article, “The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity now admits that it invested $15.2 million (£10.1 million) with Mr Madoff that represented “substantially all of the foundation’s assets.” The charity of the Nobel laureate, in New York, will have to raise new funds if it is to maintain its two centers in Israel that help Ethiopian Jews and Darfuri refugees and continue its other work.”
Perhaps the person who lost the most by trusting Bernie Madoff is 95 year old Carl J. Shapiro, who has been a personal friend to Madoff for nearly 50 years. In addition to losing 500 million dollars in the relationship, Shapiro at 95 is confronted with the reality that someone he thought of as “a son” did this to him.
“All I can say is that this is an awful, awful time for us,” wife Ruth Shapiro told a reporter from The New York Times.
Mr. Shapiro started his fortune making women’s clothing company Kay Windsor Inc, in 1939. He sold the business to Vanity Fair Corp in 1971; it was one of the largest clothing manufacturers in America. Mr. Shapiro was reportedly introduced to Madoff by his own his son-in-law, Robert Jaffe. Following the introduction, Mr. Shapiro invested in Madoff’s company when it launched in 1960.
Mr. Shapiro and his wife set up their charitable foundation the following year, in 1961, and over the decades have been big donors to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Brandeis University in Boston which Mr Madoff also supported through his own charitable foundation, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital where the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center opened this spring.
Building work is due to start next week at Boston Medical Center on the Shapiro Ambulatory Care Center, a nine-floor, $135 million facility paid for in part with $15 million from the family foundation, according to the New York Times.
In March, the foundation pledged $27 million to DanaFarber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston. Brandeis has received $22 million from the Shapiros to build the campus centre building.
Mr. Shapiro issued a statement saying that he had been “stunned and saddened to learn about the allegations” against Madoff. He said the losses would have “an impact on our family as well as our family foundation.” and that watching the arrest of Madoff on television was “a knife in the heart.”
Bernie Madoff cheated a 95 year old man, a Holocaust survivor and many others. If you are like me, you are wondering, “What was he thinking?” Personally, I don’t find the “without conscience” explanation of this kind of behavior very satisfying. You can’t convince me that Madoff was without thoughts as he created false documents and told frank lies to people. He had to have been thinking something.
Just what was Madoff thinking? He hasn’t said yet, but I can give you an educated guess based on the seminal work of prison psychologist Glenn Walters, Ph.D. I also highly recommend that students, professionals and the public read his books, The Criminal Lifestyle and Criminal Belief Systems.
Dr. Walters began his work understanding criminal lifestyles at the same time Dr. Hare set out to define psychopathy. The lifestyle criminal that Dr. Walters describes is essentially a psychopath/sociopath. His Postulate #1 reads:
“Crime can be understood as a lifestyle characterized by a global sense of irresponsibility, self-indulgent interests, an intrusive approach to interpersonal relationships and chronic violation of social rules, laws and mores.”
Dr. Walters answers our “Just what was he thinking” question in Postulates #5 and 6:
“There is a distinctive thinking style that derives from the lifestyle criminal’s decision to engage in delinquent and criminal acts (5).
The content and process of criminologic thought are reflected in eight primary cognitive patterns (6).”
I will explain these eight patterns and you will see that although Dr. Walters studies criminality these patterns pertain to antisocial conduct in general. Note that sociopaths try to fool both themselves and others with these disordered thinking patterns.
Cognitive pattern #1 Molification: Molification refers to the thoughts sociopaths use to lay blame for their irresponsible antisocial behavior outside themselves. According to sociologists Sykes and Matza these justifications can be grouped into five major “neutralization techniques”:
1. Denial of responsibility. Sociopaths deny responsibility by claiming their behaviors are accidental or due to forces beyond their control. Perhaps Madoff was thinking “I am under pressure to deliver what people asked for.” i.e. “The investors made me do it.”
2. Denial of injury. No one got hurt, and therefore there’s no harm. “All these people are rich anyway.” Madoff reportedly did not take a client who had less than a million dollars to invest.
3. Denial of the victim. Sometimes sociopaths admit that their actions cause harm. In these cases they can justify their behavior by denying the victim. In this case Madoff was thinking “The rich deserve whatever they get.”
4. Condemnation of the condemners. Instead of focusing on their own actions, sociopaths focus on the motivations or behaviors of the people who disapprove of them. So Madoff was likely thinking “How do you think these rich people got their money anyway?” or “Everyone on Wall Street is just as corrupt as I am.”
5. Appeal to higher loyalties. Sociopaths claim that their behavior is consistent with the moral obligations to their group. Using this line of reasoning, Madoff would say, “I stole to provide for my family.”
Cognitive Pattern #2 Cut-off: Cut-off refers to the techniques sociopaths use to avoid thinking about negative consequences. They cut themselves off from any worry or guilt they might be inclined to feel. In this pattern Madoff who is 70 now was likely thinking, “I’ll be dead before they figure out what I’ve done.”
Cognitive Pattern #3 Entitlement: According to Dr. Walters most sociopaths believe that laws and social rules are necessary. “However they also believe that they are somehow personally exempt from the rules that govern the rest of us. This sense of entitlement is what provides the (sociopath) with permission to violate societal laws and the personal rights of others.” He is, after all the great, lovable, charming and exceedingly brilliant Bernie Madoff!
Cognitive Pattern #4 Power Orientation: There are those who are strong and those who are weak. The weak are prey for the taking. “If a person is stupid enough to fall for my con then he doesn’t deserve his money anyway.”
Cognitive Pattern#5 Sentimentality: Sentimentality involves an attempt by the sociopath to present himself in as favorable a light as possible. How much money did Madoff give to charity so that other people would see him as kind and generous?
Cognitive Pattern#6 Superoptimism: The sociopath’s tendency to be extremely optimistic and self-confident about not getting caught is referred to as superoptimism. According to Walters, “Experience has taught (sociopaths) that the many crimes they get away with greatly outnumber the crimes for which they have been caught.” The SEC did investigate Madoff 10 years ago as he continued his fraud. I think beating that investigation likely made him feel even more invincible.
Cognitive Pattern #7 Cognitive Indolence (laziness): According to Walters, “Like water running downhill, the (sociopath’s) thinking takes the path of least resistance.” Why should Madoff do all that investing? It’s too much like work, when you can simply take money from one guy and give it to another. It is much more fun to schmooze and play golf.
Cognitive Pattern #8 Discontinuity: The sociopath fails to follow through on commitments, carry out intentions, or remain focused on goals over time. Discontinuity is reflected by the fact that Madoff at 70 will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. Though I think so-called successful psychopaths have lives marked by less discontinuity than the unsuccessful ones.
If you have examples of sociopaths using these thinking styles to justify outrageous acts, please share them in comments. Remember since the inner world of sociopaths is relatively shallow, they are most concerned with convincing others to use these perverted thought processes to make sense of their behavior. It is relatively easy for them to convince themselves that their antisocial behavior makes sense and is fully justified.
Dear OxDrover:
You make a valid point. Although I tried to help with Adult Protective Services they seemed more concerned with what the “S” was saying rather than doing. They unfounded the case and told him that if he feels I was being vandictive he can pursue charges against me.
Of course he continues to mistreat his mother and has no intentions on having her seen in a mental or medical health institution. It will take her death for this organization to act. I am out of the loop now because I try to stay away from “S” but some of my inside associates tell me that everything is more of the same.
I am the one trying to help and I am viewed as the crazy x-girlfriend. Go figure….
Dear Matt:
“there is no way in hell Bernie Madoff pulled this off by himself.”
Are you saying this because you do not believe that one person could be so evil?
He may have had accomplices but I also believe that he is capable of such mayhem.
I met an “S” who called himself the Prelate of a huge religious organization. He convinced many churches that he was part of the Arch Diocese. Anyway, to make a long story short he convinced a Toyota Dealer in the Bronx, NY to order a fleet of 300 cars and SUV’s for his church and that the ticket would be paid for by his organization. He also convinced 400 people (including myself) that they were going to receive high salaries ($100,000 or more) for working with him and that everyone would get their own house. This man was so good that he convinced 200 illegal aliens that he had a connection with INS and if they gave him all their financial documents and $1000 each that they would receive their American Citizenship. He got $200,000 out of the deal and skipped town with these peoples money and identification. There is no telling how many other schemes he committed. He travels all over the world and reinvents himself. He has been to jail but always found a loop hole to get out. I don’t know his real name but believe his alias is Bernard Bertrand.
He came into our lives like a whirlwind and silently disappeared into the night.
This was one of my worse experiences with S’s because he took my time, energy, money, and played with my emotions. We weren’t even romantically involved. I feel sorry for the people who were even closer to him than I was.
He may have even made it on America’s Most Wanted because the authorities are very familiar with this monster.
Janetf,
I can’t remember who said it but there is an old quote I recall that says “You can’t cheat an honest man”—–I don’t think that means entirely that we (victims) are ALWAYS “dishonest” but I do think it means that we have to think THERE IS SOMETHING IN IT FOR US.
Some of the old tried and true con games, like the Pigeon Drop and others like that are a bit on the “shady” side so the victim is pulled in by thinking they are going to get some “slightly ill gotten gains” without any risk at all. They fall for it like a ton of bricks because they are “slightly shady.”
The old saying “if it’s too good to be true, it is.” Again, the same thing, our (victims) GREED hooks us iinto the scene.
Maybe that “greed” is only GREEDY FOR LOVE, but we are hooked by OUR DESIRES for something. Those desires may be a legitimate desire for family, friends, affection, love, security, but we are HOOKED BY A FALSE PROMISE OF fulfilling that desire and BAM! We are conned.
The Victims in Bernie’s con were hooked by a promise of GOOD INVESTMENT RETURNS. That’s why the old ponzi scheme works. There wasn’t a thing wrong with them wanting good investment returns on their money. I would like good iinvestment returns on mine….but ANY investment is a RISK and anyone smart enough to have that much money had to know that. “You pays yer muny an’ ya takes yer chances.”
My 401K is in mutual funds tied to the stock market. I should have taken it out in cash a year ago and buried it in the back yard, but I didn’t. Now I have half or less than what I did. I procrastinated to my sorrow.
There is apparently no end of “small time” Madoff’s in this world from the guy who pretends to be a paving comapny with a bit of “leftover asphalt” from a bigger job who will repave your drive way for half price (and then only pours oil on your drive and leaves with your money and leaves you a mess) to the Madoff’s of this world. LOTS of people are out to get your money and anything else with trickery if you don’t watch out. Jesus’ advice to be WISE, CUNNING and use your head was GOOD ADVICE. Just because we don’t have guile in our hearts doesn’t mean we should be aware that others DO.
OxDrover:
It’s funny the situation with the prelate happened to me over 6 years ago. At the time I didn’t have any knowledge of Sociopaths and it took research for me to find out that this kind evil exists.
Being here I feel (LoveFraud) that I am equiping myself with the necessary armor to protect myself from these con artist or “S’s”.
Your right, everything I have ever acheived in life came with much hardwork and I cheerish them more. Being a single parent of 5 I was able to stay in school and get a certificate in computer applications, Associate -Computer Informations, and a Bachelor in Information Technology. The degrees took many late hours of study, traveling in inclement weather and foregoing other activities that I loved.
I recall a saying now that says “if it seems to good to be true, it usually is”.
My getting a house and a car without even breaking a sweat is a stretch and I should have thought of that then. the thought of making $100,000 a year without years of experience in a field that I had no knowledge was also reaching for the stars.
You make a good point.
My question is: In the case of Madoff, how did all the professionals get sucked into a false dream? Aren’t they trained to know better in the financial arena? All their education, experience, and good ole common sense went out the window for what? A dream?
Dear Janet,
In a word, YES!
That is the mark of a GOOD CON, is to make them believe.
I think it was P. T. Barnham who said “there’s a sucker born every minute.”
The idea is to CREATE a desire and make it look like you can come through. Once they take the bait, they are on the hook.
After my divorce I was the single mother of two, and I too went back to school with a “kid on each hip” got my degree and though I never made the kind of money you did, I worked hard and “made it.” I remarried to a man with whom I had a great relationship until his death. I don’t owe a soul a dime and at the end of each month I pay all my bills.
It was a long hard struggle and I worked hard. I’ve made some good decisions and I’ve made some bad ones, but I find that in most cases if people will “put their noses to the grind stone” and keep pushing they will eventually succeed in their goals. It is the “get rich quick” without any effort on your part that brings MOST people down. The Bernie Madoffs of this world may “succeed” for a while if you count money as a measure of “success” but frankly to me, it isn’t the most important thing in the world. And, for what it’s worth, I would rather be me than Bernie Madoff, EVEN IF HE HAD NEVER BEEN CAUGHT.
Congratulations, Janet, on the success of your hard work and staying focused. Going back to school as an adult is a difficult task (been there and done it) but you can look yourself in the mirror and know that you earned what you have, and that is worth a lot I think.
Oxy – interesting what you wrote about the pigeon drop – and if there is some shadiness in the victim. I believe my ex S duped me in large part because I am (was) naive, trusting, and forgiving. But there was definitely a “what’s in it for me” during those first few months – from me. He was outrageously adoring and always demonstrative, and wanting to be with me, help me, even serve me. And I loved it. And I knew, on some level that it wasn’t healthy, and that I was taking “a shortcut to happiness” by letting him lavish me with love and approval rather on working on gaining those things for myself – which is much harder. I do not blame myself, or anyone else conned by a S for their experience, but there is something about allowing and encouraging the lavish attention in the beginning that is like the pigeon drop. It’s too much, you know it, but you keep taking it. With an ENORMOUS price. If only we knew….
Yea, HH, that is the thing that made me KICK MYSELF over and over and over about it all. I KNEW it was “too good to be true” but I fell for it anyway. I can laugh about it now because I am and have worked very hard on FORGIVING myself.
Yea, there ARE predators out there in the world and they WILL take advantage ofyou if you “limp” or have a wound of some kind. It is what predators do, they seek out the weakest member of the herd and they creep up, appearing “harmless” until they can “reach out and GRAB YA!” Gottya!!!!
What we have to work on is to stop blaming them for doing what they do, and stop blaming ourselves for having an emotional “limp” from a childhood or other “thorn” in our emotional feet, and pull that thorn out and next time we can run like hell when the predator approaches! Plus, we will know what he/she/it looks like and how they act.
It was very hard for me to get over the worst of the anger and bitterness at THEM…then, I was left with no one but MYSELF to be angry and bitter at, …so getting that out of the way and working on getting the thorns out of my feet so that I don’t “emotinally” limp or let them approach. I figure maybe but the tiime I’m 80 I’ll have it “down pat” but in the meantime, I am going to try to live life to its fullest AND BE HAPPY—AS SOON AS THIS FREAKING COLD MISERABLE, RAINING, ICING, BONE CHILLING CRAPPY WEATHER GETS OVER WITH! There, I feel better now, thank you for letting me vent about this CRAPPY HATEFUL NASTY WEATHER THAT IS OUT TO GET ME! Merry Christmas everyone. Nothing wrong with me, with me, with me! LOL
That’s so beautifully put, and it just feels right. I know that someday I will forgive him – I think he (almost) couldn’t help himself -he is what he is. A predator. And I was prey. And admittedly, despite my act and at times, bravado, I have a pretty sizable limp going on. I have a sense that this experience will make the limp worse for a little while, and then much better. You know, like how a doctor breaks a bone to reset it properly.
But I’m admittedly still the place of blame. I hate him, I’m angry at him, and Im not a big fan of myself either. I go back and forth from being angry at myself to feeling self-pity. But I am trying to forge onward, trying to do healthy things and spend time with healthy people, and the truth is that I’ve improved considerably. And I’ve had some good times this fall/early winter. I was wreck in the spring and summer. I know this wasn’t my fault, and in some ways it wasn’t his. But he’s a mean bastard, and I never will be in the same room with him again, and I’ll be on the look out for new mean bastard predators.
Oh, nice Christmas spirit there on the weather! 😉 Your blog is very serene and buddha and then BAM! You go off on the weather. I love it.
HH,
Can you tell I am housebound by the weather!? Ha ha
It has been three days since I have been able to more than stick my head out as I throw the poor shivering dog out the door to do his thing! I am a solar powered person and I even like snow as long as it is not a gray, miserable COLD FREAKING RAINY crappy day! LOL
I’m only about two more days from pounding my head into the Wall! Ha ha
One year we had 31 days of gloom and cold in a row, never saw the sun and I was homicidal at the end of that period of time! Plus I worked in a clinic witout windows and I went to work in the dark and returned home in the dark and it was terrible!
I understand about the anger, rage, thoughts of revenge, etc. and also the self bashing. I can remember the rage I felt for the man who stole my husband’s gold watch off his arm as he lay dying, and you know, I pictured all kinds of things I would do to that man when I got my hands on him, how LOW can you go? But, you know what—it was a watch. A piece of metal. STUFF, that’s all. That raging against something I could not change was so futile and so counter productive in the long run. I’m glad it is over.
I’m not always serene and buddha, but I am sure not a rabid dog any more for sure.
Predators are predators and they attack the weak, and Ps are definitely predators and they troll until they find the one with the limp, so it is up to us to keep our emotional health good. I am no longer “blaming” them, or “blaming myself” either, and the anger is decreasing to the point that I hardly ever get upset over much, and it pretty well has to be a pretty big thing to get me upset any more. It is ust more accepting that what is IS.
I don’t know what your religion or spiritual thing is, but one of the things that DID help me was to pray for them.
At first I said the words out loud. I DID NOT MEAN THEM. And that was OK. Then as time went on I began to mean them a little bit, and so on. I still don’thave a squishy feeling for any of the Ps, but I would not hurt them if I could. I WILL protect myself, but I will NOT go out of my way to hunt them down and hurt them, even if I could.
I did send the warden of my son’s prison a copy of a letter my son sent my mother that indicated he might have access to a cell phone again (a very bad thing and a felony) and I imagine they will rake him over the coals pretty good, and maybe transfer him to another prison, but it wasn’t done for revenge or hurt to him, but for MY OWN SAFETY so that he would not have illegal means of communication which he would use to hurt me. I know if he finds out I did that, he will look at it as “revenge” but (shrugging shoulders here) that’s the way the cookie crumbles. I will do whatever “spying” I think I need to do to protect myself and take whatever safety measures I need to. If that means he gets the run around, he shouldn’t have broken the law or be indicating he is still breaking it.
He got busted with a cell phone a few years ago, so I imagine the officials will take my report seriously. (Plus the letter in his hand writing).
Hang in there HH, it does get better. I think the last 6 months of the two years of this chaos have been the most progress for me. Those first few months I was such a mess, plus so physically sick (tick fever) that I just didn’t have the energy to do anything. (((hugs)))))
Hey O…pray for him? Oh Boy. SIGH – Other people have suggested that, too. In fact, enough people that I have respect for have suggested that, so there must be something to it. But the thought of praying for his well-being makes me want to vomit. Seriously, I start to think about wishing him well in a prayer, and my stomach starts to turn. I want him to hurt like he hurt me. I don’t want him to be well.
AH! Am I cursing myself by saying those things? Am I bringing that energy back to myself by putting it out there?