I’ve never written about opportunism, despite mentioning it (eg, my blogs of 2022 and 2016). Opportunism may well explain the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the Russian analysis of (mutual) Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (ie, SWOT) clearly failed (badly).
My August blog, Calculating women vs opportunistic men, suggests that opportunism is a male character trait. A 2015 marketing research paper (The Role of Gender as an Antecedent to Opportunism: Are Women Less Opportunistic?) confirms my view, albeit with some caveats:
“Although this study demonstrates that gender is an antecedent variable, the low explained variance suggests that gender alone is probably not actionable as a variable to predict or explain opportunism unless used in conjunction with other variables, many of which have been identified by previous researchers [..].” Note LO: URL in quote added by me.
Excerpt from book on the 1996 Multicultural Marketing Conference, page 296, 4th paragraph
Combining male opportunism with a male belief in Power (eg, my recent blog) may well explain (very) many conflicts (eg, business, politics, religion, and wars).
Interestingly, female opportunism is linked to mating or sexuality; see 2009 research paper Oestradiol level and opportunistic mating in women and/or sexual opportunism (Wiki). This may well explain the urban legend that 8-10% of all children is not raised by their biological father (my 2015 blog).
My latest blog label is about two opposites: integrity versus opportunism. Obviously, most people (f+m) are somewhere in between. However, if men are more prone towards opportunism, would women then be more prone towards integrity?
“A frequently mentioned study by Fang et al. (2013) found an overrepresentation of men, because 65% of the cases of misconduct were male, which is higher than could be expected based on the male-female distribution in science and engineering.”
H2020 Integrity: Do male and female researchers behave differently and have different attitudes regarding integrity issues?
Unfortunately, my private life has revealed (very) different examples. I realise, however, that I’m not a male benchmark because I believe in Love, Knowledge and Power while men generally believe in Power (my recent blog). This may well explain my frequent disappointments in life and in love.
“There’s a difference between an opportunist, and someone who seizes an opportunity. One selfishly harvests the fruits of another’s labor, the other strategically helps plant the seeds. The latter can be an asset, the former will always be a leech. That climb to the top is already back breaking enough! Don’t carry opportunists up your ladder of success!” Carlos Wallace
Quote from Life Is Not Complicated-You Are: Turning Your Biggest Disappointments Into Your Greatest Blessings
Opportunity (1977) by Joan Armatrading
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-artist, Wiki-album
[Verse 1]
Opportunity
Came to my door
When I was down
On my luck
In the shape
Of an old friend
With a plan
Guaranteed
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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