The "What is Money?" Show cover image

The Psychological Tools of CIA Operatives with Andrew Bustamante (WiM328)

The "What is Money?" Show

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The Three Lives: Public, Private, and Secret

We all have three lives: public, private, and secret. In our public life, we emphasize our strengths and hide our vulnerabilities to project a certain image to others. Our public life consists of friends, associates, and professional connections. In our private life, we share our vulnerabilities and weaknesses with a smaller group of people, such as intimate friends and family. They know the real us, including our imperfections. However, there is also a secret life, where our shame, guilt, and deepest secrets reside. Only a select few, if anyone, are allowed into this secret life. The CIA teaches that once someone is let into our secret life, they can never be fully removed. This is why espionage is about gaining access to someone's secret life, as it provides immense leverage and power. However, the goal is not to exploit their secrets, but to offer hope and use it as a tool of coercion. By understanding their weaknesses and vulnerabilities, spies can manipulate individuals to act in their interests. This is the essence of espionage and what makes a spy valuable.

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