WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR HUMAN’S MIND TO BE HACKED WITHIN THE CYBER ERA, IT’S NOT ANY MORE A QUESTION

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR HUMAN’S MIND TO BE HACKED WITHIN THE CYBER ERA, IT’S NOT ANY MORE A QUESTION

FADI ABU ZUHRI

INTRODUCTION

According to the Guradian (Sample, 2017) “New human rights that would protect people from having their thoughts and other brain information stolen, abused or hacked have been proposed by researchers.”, which really destroy the question of this article. However, this article will not focus on the aim of hacking the human brain, nor the existing technology has been developed for hospitals to diagnose or treat medical conditions as to control Parkinson’s symptoms and other conditions. Also, this article is not about brainwave monitoring devices that allow people to play video games with their minds, or any other tools that claim to boost mental performance (Dredge, 2015), still it’s good to know such techniques and tools do exist.

According to (Rafael Yuste, 2017), Scientists are warning that AI could hack your brain. And control your thoughts, decisions and emotions. The scientists use an example of a paralyzed man. Participating in a clinical trial of a brain-computer interface. If the patient disagrees with the medical team. The AI connected to his brain could read his thoughts. And interpret them as a command to harm the researchers. Despite no direct command being given by the patient. The scientists say it is crucial to consider the possible consequences now. Including a person’s right to a private mental life. Investment in the neurotechnology industry has reached $100 million a year. The scientist are calling for new ethical rules. To ensure that AI does not exploit and manipulate people. four ethical priorities for neurotechnologies and AI. lay out recommendations relating to four areas of concern within neurotechnology and IA: privacy and consent; agency and identity; augmentation; and bias

Do you think AI is a threat… Or an opportunity?

Sorry if you are disappointed.

The article tries to covering and through some light over addiction to pleasure and using hidden desire of human mind, if not creating fake desires for the brain to run behind and ask for more and more, and more. As creating a field of rising human’s brain, to be used whenever is needed and by whoever having the power to do so, almost as the Matrix showing a field of raising human’s buddies (Wachowski & Wachowski, 1999). As highlighted within a lot of science-fiction movies, alteration of human’s memories or even transfer it to other human as showed within the Altered Carbon TV Series (Kalogridis, 2018). Maybe it is just another game, or just to move a level up, but when it is reality, there are a lot of ingredients for a teenager to be the most wanted criminal (which still could be questioned by sample questions (ABU ZUHRI, 10 QUESTIONS TO KNOW IF YOUR CHILD TODAY MIGHT BE THE MOST WANTED CRIMINAL TOMORROW, 2018)) or just waiting to be a person with the name in all TV channels and media. And the beneficial is always the man in power, not the human who did the action, but it’s the man who had up-used and misused other human brain. And always there is illusion of religion, money, men, women, children, and list go on, for action to be considered.

Still, this paper does not discuss the motivation behind human’s mind hacking, it is just to throw a light over some of the side effects of video games motivating killing, series make easier killing a human being as a norm, videos of superhero killing bad people without referring to a low, outside the law, violence music, video and music with hidden messages using psychological steganography, and nothing more important than brain to be not protected by lowering the brain protection by chemical treatment which helps manipulate the symptoms of early age of anxiety and depression, claiming helping with symptoms. Also, raising human’s mind over plastic foods (which should not be eaten by human), and the vital when a child’s brain is being affected with chemicals, either from the food eaten directly and/or by the parents’ habit of eating.

And yes, this is not technical psychological paper,

VIDEO GAMES

Unfortunately, this is not the 80s era, it’s the cyber era, however, huge part of existing treatments look a like the 80s era. It’s the era which human could create multiple virtual persona, and one of them could worth 500 Million Euro, one of them engage in gaming according to Fadi (ABU ZUHRI, HOW ONE OF YOUR VIRTUAL PERSONA COULD WORTH 500 M EURO, 2017). Online gaming has become a popular activity for children, teenagers, young and old adults according to (ABU ZURHI, 2017). For instance, an online game where a player interact with a certain monster, defeating and killing the monster, the player is rewarded depending on the monster’s response. Even an avatar of Super Hero kill the criminals and safe the innocent, without referring to court or system. Killing become the norms just to progress to another level within the game. However as much as you play, and long, actions transferred from Conscious to Collective Unconscious and become the reality or the option number one, unfortunately, human’s brain might reached the level to considered killing in reality would be option number one too, especially if some else had label the one to be killed as criminal by another group without the court and without judgmental system.

MUSIC

According to Lindsay (Dodgson, 2018), hip-hop and rock could make the cheese taste better. Also, as per Masaru (Emoto, 2000) thoughts, words, music have huge effect over water, when the water is frozen its crystals will be beautiful or ugly depending on whatever used were good or bad. And no different, effects of music on the human body as claimed by (Sharma, 2017) might improves memory, attention, physical coordination and mental development. The classical music stimulates the regeneration of brain cells. Certain music improves the mood, intelligence, motivation and concentration. It also improves the quality of life and aids in physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs.

However, according to (Schleiffarth, 2017) Music can affect your mood. The easiest way to understand why music has such a powerful effect on the mind is to monitor brain activity while someone is listening to music. Most people have different music preferences, but interestingly enough, taste in music isn’t the most important factor—an emotional connection is. And according (ASSAGIOLI, n.d.) The harmful effects of music on body and mind are due to various factors. The most important of these is the kind or quality of the music. But there are others of a secondary character which can be influential and at times even decisive. These are: the amount of the music; the combination and succession of different kinds of music; the psychophysiological constitution of each listener; the particular emotional state in which he or she is at the time.

Not to mention, subliminal messages and backwards talks could be used within the music industries. Music therefore helps to do away with negative subliminal messages and works by aiming on one’s subconscious mind. According (Kolenda, 2019) subliminal messages in music do exist, one famous example of subliminal messages in music can be found in Judas Priest. In 1990, the band was accused of putting backward messages of “do it” in a song. And those messages allegedly caused the suicide of two male teenagers. The judge found no evidence, and the band was cleared of the charges.

Nevertheless, can subliminal messages influence your thoughts and behavior? Yes, they can. However, subliminal messages can’t make you do something you wouldn’t want to do, if you have the good immunity.

Music still could be used to help improve memory and emotional healing, and overcome stress and pain (Williams, 2019). And according (Kennaway, 2011) The link between the hypnotic power of music and the nerves was underlined in the neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot’s experiments with hypnosis at the Salpêtrière in Paris later in the nineteenth century. He used gongs and tuning forks on patients to provoke cataleptic fits, one of his stages of hysterical hypnosis.

The question could Music be used for hypnosis without the human consent?

SERIES AND EPISODES

Advertisers aren’t the only people getting criticized. Movie editors from Disney have been criticized for putting subliminal messages in movies. Here are a few examples. Walt Disney’s “Aladdin” Subliminal Message? (AZDigitalTransfers, 2011), Little Mermaid Erection (Buckley, 2006) and Lion King Subliminal Message (Ashton, 2013).

Still, a lot of The studies of violence in mass media analyzes the degree of correlation between themes of violence in media sources (particularly violence in video games, television and films) with real-world aggression and violence over time. Many social scientists support the correlation (Anderson, et al., 2003), and a lot of other researchers do not agree with such correlation.

However, would it be part of norms, if human get to used to something over, and over again and again. Therefore, aggression and violence become the reality and the motivation to live. Well, human fight the injustices system outside the justice system, by killing other human become acceptable, as The Punisher (Lightfoot, 2017-2019). Might for a lot of other human the answer will be NO, however for a lot of the other fan of such TV Series, Yes would be the easy answer. Well targeting other murderers be acceptable, as Dexter (Manos, 2006-2013), still outside the justice system.

EATING PLASTIC

Something as harmless as feeding your child dairy, gluten, soda and sugar could have long-term damage to their emotional development. According to Dr. Bob, the drugless doctor, states that children having diet with high levels of trans fat (partially hydrogenated fat) are at a higher risk of developing depression and ADHD (Attention Deficiency and Hyperactivity Disorder) (Dr.Bob, 2016). Not to mention that Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is strictly out of the diet, just as plastic is not to be eaten by Humans (ABU ZUHRI, COULD HUMANS BE MORE INTELLIGENT?, 2018) (ABU ZUHRI, INTELLIGENT COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE BODY AND HOW TO BE SMARTER, 2018).

As a parent you need to be aware of your children’s behaviour and how well they handle emotions. In case of extreme behaviours it is wise to consult a professional psychologist.

ANTI-DEPRESSION MEDICATION

According to Batelaan, Van Balkom, & Stein (Batelaan, 2012), the management of anxiety disorders and depression should be handled and controlled with the help of a therapist. It is very important that individuals with anxiety and depression get a good evaluation in order to eliminate bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a state wherein emotions can move between very low and very high levels of obsession and despair and is being treated very differently from the anxiety disorder with depression.

All people feel sad sometimes. Sadness is a normal emotion which can make life more exciting. Nearly at all times sadness is accompanied by loss. People are frequently sad when they say farewell to a loved one. The suffering is even deeper when an intimate relationship ends or when a dear friend is dead. However, sadness helps people to enjoy happiness. When one’s mood finally changes from sadness to joy, such changes will be more enjoyably and appreciated (Tay & Kuykendall, 2016).

For a teenager, depression might be a sample reaction of bullying physically in school or virtually within the social media. According to the Sun (Cope, 2019) the broken generation with child suicide rates soaring, not due to the love of dying, just to run out of their emotions.

According to Rachel (Kelly, 2019) the argument is not to ignore medication in treating depression, but to be aware of the side effects and relying on pills over a long period. As the doctors must not rush patients into stopping the anti-depression medication, due to the side effects from withdrawal might be worst than staying on the drugs. It’s vital for the doctors not to rush patients nor accept the request of patients for anti-depression medication to be the first option.

We get sick when we subject ourselves to unhealthy thoughts (the proverbial rotten tomatoes). Mental health is where problems start. Mental health can be improved by smiling, mindful meditation of how thoughts play in our mind and breathing deeply (Ea, 2018). It would be valuable for students to learn when and how to accept whatever is between their hands and overcome depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

CONCLUSION

I could not find better ingredients for a teenager mind to be up-used, and as brains in field just waiting to be collected and manipulated with the man in power. Addiction could be cured with professional help, and with breaking the repetitive and routine actions. Union to each other and be part of your family, have huge role of overcoming the worst.

According to (Beacham, 2017), three tips to help kids protect themselves from ‘Brain Hacking’, Self-Control (delay gratification), the differentiation between the needs and wants, and how to control searching the internet and be familiar with giant internet companies ads business.

And according to (Rafael Yuste, 2017), individual identity (our bodily and mental integrity) and agency (our ability to choose our actions) must be protected as basic human rights. Scientific or technological decisions are based on a narrow set of systemic, structural or social concepts and norms, the resulting technology can privilege certain groups and harm others. History indicates that profit hunting will often trump social responsibility in the corporate world. And even if, at an individual level, most technologists set out to benefit humanity, they can come up against complex ethical dilemmas for which they aren’t prepared. We think that mindsets could be altered and the producers of devices better equipped by embedding an ethical code of conduct into industry and academia. Medical students are taught about patient confidentiality, non-harm and their duties of beneficence and justice, and are required to take the Hippocratic Oath to adhere to the highest standards of the profession.

Each human having a different journey, and some of us, might have a ‘dark passenger’, a vulnerability (which should not be up-used by someone else) as disappointment, shame, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, should not be a reason for our valiance nor an excuse. Managing them was not a subject taught in school (ABU ZUHRI, SEVEN ELEMENTS IF TAUGHT IN SCHOOL YESTERDAY, MAY HAVE RESULTED IN MORE INTELLIGENCE TODAY, 2018).

Asking for professional help might be the best option not only to you, but for a lot of people souls could be saved. Killing any other human in real life should not be an option, as it’s not another video games for leveling up. Killing another human could not be an option due to the existing role of music in our brains. Killing should not be an option, as we are not living in movie and we are not the superhero outside the justice system. And killing should not be an option, in case we lost someone we care about, just because accepting our emotions were not that easy. We do need to remind ourselves, saving one human being for dying, as valuable as we saving all the human, and killing one human being, is as considered killing everyone else in this life. It cannot be stressed enough the fact that each individual needs to map his or her own personal journey towards holistic health. There is no single solution that could fit us all.

REFERENCES

ABU ZUHRI, F. (2017). HOW ONE OF YOUR VIRTUAL PERSONA COULD WORTH 500 M EURO. Retrieved from ZAHF.ME: https://www.zahf.me/how-one-of-your-virtual-persona-could-worth-500000000-00-euro/

ABU ZUHRI, F. (2018). 10 QUESTIONS TO KNOW IF YOUR CHILD TODAY MIGHT BE THE MOST WANTED CRIMINAL TOMORROW. Retrieved from ZAHF.ME: https://www.zahf.me/10-questions-to-know-if-your-child-today-might-be-the-most-wanted-criminal-tomorrow/

ABU ZUHRI, F. (2018). COULD HUMANS BE MORE INTELLIGENT? Retrieved from ZAHF.ME: https://www.zahf.me/could-humans-be-more-intelligent/

ABU ZUHRI, F. (2018). INTELLIGENT COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE BODY AND HOW TO BE SMARTER. Retrieved from ZAHF.ME: https://www.zahf.me/intelligent-communication-within-the-body-and-how-to-be-smarter/

ABU ZUHRI, F. (2018). SEVEN ELEMENTS IF TAUGHT IN SCHOOL YESTERDAY, MAY HAVE RESULTED IN MORE INTELLIGENCE TODAY. Retrieved from ZAHF.ME: https://www.zahf.me/seven-elements-if-taught-in-school-yesterday-may-have-resulted-in-more-intelligence-today/

ABU ZURHI, F. (2017). HOW YOU STILL EXIST HERE, WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY THERE. Retrieved from ZAHF.ME: https://www.zahf.me/how-you-still-exist-here-when-you-are-already-there/

Anderson, C. A., Berkowitz, L., Donnerstein, E., Huesmann, L. R., Johnson, J. D., Linz, D., . . . Wartella, E. (2003). The influence of media violence on youth. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4 (3): 81–110.

Ashton, S. (2013). Lion King Subliminal Message. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/edtwq4P8jUM

ASSAGIOLI, R. (n.d.). The Harmful Effects of Music on Body and Mind. Retrieved from The Unbounded Spirit: https://theunboundedspirit.com/the-harmful-effects-of-music-on-body-and-mind/

AZDigitalTransfers. (2011). Walt Disney’s “Aladdin” Subliminal Message? Retrieved from https://youtu.be/1QYYOuQGEp0

Batelaan, N. M. (2012). Evidence-based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder: an update. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 15 (3), 403–415.

Beacham, S. (2017, AUG). Tips to Help Kids Protect Themselves from ‘Brain Hacking’. Retrieved from Susan Beacham: http://susanbeacham.com/tips-help-kids-protect-from-brain-hacking/

Buckley, M. (2006). Little Mermaid Erection. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/InFLnzeQjWw

Cope, E. (2019). THE BROKEN GENERATION With child suicide rates soaring, we find out what’s pushing our kids to the brink. Retrieved from The Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/8676175/fabulous-investigates-rise-child-suicide/

Dodgson, L. (2018). A cheesemaker is Switzerland is playing hip-hop and rock to his Emmental to make it taste better. Insider.

Dr.Bob. (2016). Mental Health. Retrieved from The Drugless Doctor: https://druglessdoctor.com/health-topics/mental-health/

Dredge, S. (2015, JUN). BBC reveals mind control experiment – for choosing what to watch next. Retrieved from Guardian News & Media Limited: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jun/18/bbc-mind-control-experiment-iplayer

Ea, P. (2018, March 18). We need to talk about mental health. Retrieved from youtube.com: https://youtu.be/6YbWRqsnHdo

Emoto, M. (2000). Messages from Water, Vol. 1. Hado Kyoiku Sha Co., Ltd.

Kalogridis, L. (Director). (2018). Altered Carbon [Motion Picture].

Kelly, R. (2019). It was frightening to struggle with antidepressants, but now I know there is another way. Retrieved from NewStatesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2019/03/it-was-frightening-struggle-antidepressants-now-i-know-there-another-way

Kennaway, J. (2011). Musical Hypnosis: Sound and Selfhood from Mesmerism to Brainwashing. Retrieved from OXFORD ACADEMIC: https://academic.oup.com/shm/article/25/2/271/1739124

Kolenda, N. (2019). Subliminal Messages: Do They Really Work? Retrieved from Nick Kolenda: https://www.nickkolenda.com/subliminal-messages/

Lightfoot, S. (Director). (2017-2019). The Punisher [Motion Picture].

Manos, J. (Director). (2006-2013). Dexter [Motion Picture].

PATEL, J. K. (2018, FEB). After Sandy Hook, More Than 400 People Have Been Shot in Over 200 School Shootings. Retrieved from The New York Times Company: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/02/15/us/school-shootings-sandy-hook-parkland.html

Rafael Yuste, S. G. (2017). Four ethical priorities for neurotechnologies and AI. Nature 551, 159–163.

Sample, I. (2017, APR). New human rights to protect against ‘mind hacking’ and brain data theft proposed. Retrieved from Guardian News & Media Limited: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/26/new-human-rights-to-protect-against-mind-hacking-and-brain-data-theft-proposed

Schleiffarth, T. (2017). What Happens to Your Brain When You Listen to Music. Retrieved from selecthealth: https://selecthealth.org/news-and-articles/2017/02/what-happens-to-your-brain-when-you-listen-to-music

Sharma, S. (2017). The Effect of Music on Human Health and Brain Growth. Retrieved from Owlcation: https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/The-Effect-of-Music-on-Human-Health-and-Brain-Growth

Tay, L., & Kuykendall, L. (2016). Why self-reports of happiness and sadness may not necessarily contradict bipolarity. a psychometric review and proposal. Emotion Review, 9 (2), 146-154.

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THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CREDIT CARD WITHIN CYBER ERA

THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CREDIT CARD WITHIN CYBER ERA

FADI ABU ZUHRI

INTRODUCTION

A credit card is a payment card containing virtual money that is handed out to users to allow them to make payments to the merchant based on the creditor’s promise to the user to pay the deposit and other agreed commissions. The card organizer (frequently the bank, or a other financial institution) makes a negotiable account and provides a credit card to the cardholder, where the cardholder may request loans to make payments to the merchant or as a cash advance (Yilmazkuday & Yazgan, 2011). In addition, credit cards combine payment services with credit extension. The complex pricing in the credit card industry limits customers’ ability to make comparisons between different credit providers in order to ensure the competitiveness of the sector and maximize the benefits of the credit industry. As a result, various legislators have controlled the fees of the credit card.

IS CREDIT CARD REALLY A GOOD IDEA – PROS & CONS OF A CASHLESS ECONOMY

Credit fuels consumption and therefore functions as an extra demand for production. Credit is the ultimate answer to implementing the statement “I want it now”. But credit creates an illusion of an exaggerated financial potential. Lie (2017) argues that most people who are used to using credit cards often fail to see that their red accounts have reached the monthly salary level, or went even beyond. Furthermore, some are not sufficiently enough aware of the cost attached to the loan / credit taken, in the form of the most recent interest rates applicable. Today people like going cashless when buying almost anything with a credit card, such us: a simple TV, cell phone, car, even an apartment or a country house. Without a doubt, credit is a very practical and profitable discovery made by the humanity, however it comes with a number of negative impacts as well.

Hodson, Dwyer, and Neilson (2014) point out that a credit card is different from a payment card and the amount used must be fully repaid each month, otherwise significant cumulative interest rates will be triggered. On the other hand, credit cards allow consumers to obtain a permanent debt balance, with interest payments. A credit card is unlike a debit card that can be used as virtual money by the cardholder. Themba and Tumedi (2012) point out that the credit card is not like the debit card, as a credit card is typically a third party that pays the merchant and is compensated by the customer, while the charge card issues the buyer’s payment up to a later date in a cashless society. Nevertheless, credit cards have some negative impacts.

In fact, reaching the credit limit is a bad idea. Certain countries apply a credit scoring which determines your credit limit. The percentage of credit a person uses in relation to the available individual income must not exceed a certain percentage of their credit score. Paying the monthly credit card bills promptly could allow the user to build a better score faster, but there are disadvantages. In accordance with the terms, it may be wise to pay using a credit card in a smart city that promotes a cashless economy. However, credit card companies entice users to spend more by giving them loyalty points that can be redeemed for benefits. Such marketing strategy determines users to look for more ways to spend and earn points (McHugh & Ranyard, 2012).

According to Lie (2017), various bills are not equal and one has to assess each of them to decide which one is best for paying with a credit card. There are pros and cons of paying bills with credit cards. Anyone who wants to pay bills with a credit card must have discipline and must not spend the money that he or she normally pays the bills with. The user has to pay the credit card bill with cash or from a debit card, not from other credit cards. Lie (2017) also points out that it is very important to keep the credit card balance under 30 percent of the limit. The high use of credit cards can negatively affect the credit position of the user and even damage their credit worthiness. If the users pay bills they cannot afford using credit cards, it can result in paying a lot of interest when using virtual money.

In both cases, it should be noted that going cashless frequently in a smart city confirms that the purchase price of goods is much greater than the actual price of the product. It is referred to as “I want it now”, and it also includes excessive payment for the goods. The only thing that needs to be done is to compare the amount with the rate of rising debt. Everybody knows that credit encourages consumption and, therefore, production. However, every borrower of a loan must offer certain guarantees for the loan commitments (Hodson, Dwyer, & Neilson, 2014). Over indebtedness leads to a need to an increase in the income of debtors and, therefore, to a chronic excess of the rate of consumption, depending on the contractual guarantees. Think for a moment that everything a person uses is purchased on credit. All the things one uses and buys, such as the TV, the restaurant bills, the furniture bought on credit are adding up to a point where the user’s monthly salary cannot keep up with prompt payments.

Many people do not have any savings because almost all of their salaries are used to pay off the loans they use. These loans are called subprime and if these people were to lose their jobs, the following day in front of their houses there will be a long queue of creditors looking for guarantees on payment obligations that the debtors got themselves into. Therefore, most people are anxious to get decently well paying jobs with enough wages to meet or exceed their monthly payment obligations. McHugh and Ranyard (2012) indicate that if the customers do not pay the credit in due time, their accounts are “fined”. In the worst case scenario, their property may end up under the hammer. If the same situation continues, when one cannot pay the loan, it happens on a global scale, that the property will be auctioned off, however no one can buy it at the auction because the neighbours of their neighbours will find themselves in the same situation, as it was the case in the 2008 financial crisis, or Detroit housing market.

Time passes very fast. If we were to consider some time back, the purchase of an item on credit took on a “state” role. Yilmazkuday & Yazgan (2011) argue that today, purchasing on credit is a common and routine activity that has nothing to do with stringent government approvals. Many people do it, often times without thinking about the results. It is not a secret that if people do not have enough money to pay the total purchase price, for example for a washing machine, a car, or a new apartment, they will take it on credit or loan. From a rational and practical point of view, credit is a direct alternative to loan stacking.

Meltzer (2013) argues that people can be better without a credit card because they can learn to have self-control. At best, the reluctance to have self-control when people have money can deprive them of their financial security. In the worst case, an impulsive attitude towards purchases can also negatively affect other forms of their lives. Yes, the restriction can be both difficult and annoying, but there are other valuable rewards of these people being able to afford their homes.

An often-overlooked benefit of credit cards is the payment protection feature. It’s called ‘chargeback’ and it means that if you don’t receive the goods you bought, you may be able to get your money back. Some card companies also refund the charge if the customer is not happy with the product or service (Money Team, 2018).

CONCLUSION

To sum up, people need to be smart with their credit cards. Here are a few tips: don’t charge food purchases, create a budget, read the fine print, don’t buy what you cannot afford and simply leave your credit card at home (Khaleej Times, 2018).

While offering the charm of easy and quick money, credit cards have fuelled a cashless economy and destroyed financial prudence. If you want it, you can get – seems to be the motto for the younger generation that doesn’t seem to know the difference between what is an asset and what is a liability. Once caught in the web trap of paying off interest on the principal amount, people could very well be tempted to criminal behaviour to pay off their debt. Could we be stoking a new generation that is financial less secure and therefore more inclined to beg, borrow or steal, in order to buy their next object of desire?

Some say that paying with hard cash gives the product a higher psychological value than that which is bought with a single swipe of a credit card where you don’t have to pay anything until the next bill is generated. Are we not promoting irresponsible consumerism and individual bankruptcy, with all the implications involved, in the name of going cashless or priceless?

REFERENCES

  1. Hodson, R., Dwyer, R., & Neilson, L. (2014). Credit Card Blues: The Middle Class and the Hidden Costs of Easy Credit. Retrieved 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4707673

  2. Khaleej Times. (2018, August 25). Be smart with your credit card.

  3. Lie, C. (2017). The “Negative” Credit Card Effect: Credit Cards as Spending-Limiting stimuli in New Zealand. The Psychological Record , 60 (3), 399–411.

  4. McHugh, S., & Ranyard, R. (2012). Credit repayment decisions: The role of longterm consequence information, economic and psychological factors. Review of Behavioral Finance , 4 (2), 98-112.

  5. Meltzer, H., Bebbington, P., Brugha, T., Farrell, M., & Jenkins, R. (2013). The relationship between personal debt and specific common mental disorders. European Journal of Public Health , 23 (1), 108–113.

  6. Money Team. (2018, July 1). Visa, Mastercard & Amex Chargeback. Retrieved 2018 from https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/visa-mastercard-chargeback/

  7. Themba, G., & Tumedi, C. B. (2012). Credit Card Ownership and Usage Behaviour in Botswana. International Journal of Business Administration , 3 (6).

  8. Yilmazkuday, H., & Yazgan, M. E. (2011). Effects of credit and debit cards on the currency demand. Applied Economics , 2115-2123.

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