Keith Payne

A timely examination by a leading scientist of the physical, psychological, and moral effects of inequality. Today’s inequality is on a scale that none of us has seen in our lifetimes, yet this disparity between rich and poor has ramifications that extend far beyond mere financial means. In The Broken Ladder psychologist Keith Payne examines how inequality divides us not just economically, but has profound consequences for how we think, how our cardiovascular systems respond to stress, how our immune systems function, and how we view moral ideas like justice and fairness. Experiments in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics have not only revealed important new insights on how inequality changes people in predictable ways, but have provided a corrective to our flawed way of viewing poverty as the result of individual character failings. Among modern, developed societies, economic inequality is not primarily about money, but rather about relative where we stand in relation to other people. Regardless of their average income, countries or states with greater levels of income inequality have much higher rates of all the social problems we associate with poverty, including lower average life expectancies, serious health issues, mental illness, and crime. The Broken Ladder explores such issues as why women in poor societies often have more children, and have them younger; why there is little trust among the working class that investing for the future will pay off; why people’s perception of their relative social status affects their political beliefs, and why growing inequality leads to greater political divisions; how poverty raises stress levels in the same way as a physical threat; inequality in the workplace, and how it affects performance; why unequal societies become more religious; and finally offers measures people can take to lessen the harm done by inequality in their own lives and the lives of their children.

A leading social scientist explains the psychology of our current social divide and how understanding it can help reduce the conflicts it causes. There has been much written about the impact of polarization on elections, political parties, and policy outcomes. But Keith Payne’s goal is more to focus on what our divisions mean for us as individuals, as families, and as communities. This book is about how ordinary people think about politics, why talking about it is so hard, and how we can begin to mend the personal bonds that are fraying for so many of us. Drawing upon his own research and his experience growing up in a working class, conservative Christian family in small town Kentucky, Payne argues that there is a near-universal human tendency to believe that people who are different from us are irrational or foolish. The fundamental source of our division is our need to flexibly rationalize ideas in order to see ourselves as good people. Understanding the psychology behind our political divide provides clues about how we can reduce the damage it is causing. It won’t allow us to undo our polarization overnight, but it can give us the tools to stop going around in circles in frustrating arguments. It can help us make better choices about how we engage in political debates, how policy makers and social media companies deal with misinformation, and how we deal with each other on social media. It can help us separate, if we choose to, our political principles from our personal relationships so that we can nurture both.

From the battlefields of Korea, Malaya and Vietnam to the struggle for veterans' welfare, Keith Payne has never shied away from a fight. More than 50 years ago, this bravery saw him receive the Commonwealth's highest military honour - the Victoria Cross.Keith grew up one of thirteen children in the shadow of the Great Depression and the Second World War. After seeing his father come home wounded from war, Keith joined the army. He was sent to fight in Korea at just 18 years old, the bloody beginning to decades of military service across the world.Keith's life was defined by one night in 1969. In the dark jungle of Vietnam, under heavy enemy fire, Keith returned to a fled battlefield to rescue 40 of his soldiers. For his extreme act of bravery in leading his men to safety, Keith became the last Australian to earn the VC for 40 years.Keith spent decades in the public spotlight while struggling with his own demons, then found new purpose as an advocate for others. In a lifetime of service, he has helped not only veterans of foreign wars, but also Indigenous diggers and communities left behind by civilian and military bureaucracy.No One Left Behind tells, for the first time in his words, of Keith Payne's remarkable life. His definitive autobiography reveals the story of a big-hearted, iconic Australian and the heart and heartaches of a man who continues to fight for his mates.Featuring a Foreword by Mark Donaldson VCPraise for No One Left Behind'The power is in the story. Keith Payne's life and story is a gift to our nation and the next generation. Born of hardship, a man shaped by the best and worst of human behaviour, who has loved and been loved by one woman. He fought wars for us, then in peace, the lived traumas he brought back with him. A life given ultimately for others. To read No One Left Behind is to accept the challenge to be a better person.' - Hon Dr Brendan Nelson AO'Raw, brutal, compelling and very, very personal, Payne's account illuminates more than the grizzly and chaotic details of the battlefields he has seen. This reflective tale of an a remarkable Australian, placed in extraordinary circumstances, is also a story of the human condition - warts and all.' - Professor Craig Stockings'At one level, Keith Payne's book is an exciting story of his exploits in wars from Korea to Vietnam, culminating in the award of the Victoria Cross for bravery. At a deeper level, his post-war experiences show that war unleashes demons in the mind that can overwhelm even the bravest of the brave.' - Dr Peter Yule'In his own words Keith tells, humbly, how he not only saved 40 of his soldiers in Vietnam, but how he went on to help many, many more veterans in the years to come, while also striving to get on top of his own problems. I can't think of a better example to set ... take care of yourself, but never forget to look after your mates.' - Mark Donaldson VC

In the 20 years I've known Keith Payne as a sales professional, public speaker and friend, he has never failed to delight me. His wit, intelligence and plain horse sense come through brilliantly in these pages. To anyone wanting to maintain a positive outlook regardless of the circumstances I Read this book! Craig Bridgman, Colleague & friend for 20+ years. Keith speaks with experience and passion about fully embracing and engaging life's race, overcoming it's many obstacles, while keeping eyes on the prize. If you want more out of life and you're looking for a mentor, you have to read this book!Kathleen Reed, Ministry Colleague & friend for 10+ years You will enjoy Keith's inspirational wisdom and insight in this amazing collection of personal experiences and practical applications. I'm doubly blessed not only to read these, but to actually have witnessed some of them with him as well! Jeff Coleman, Ministry Colleague & friend for 20+ years. In The Best Is Always... Still Yet To Come , author Keith Payne shares many "slice of life" vignettes drawn from his own experiences. His stories recall good times and bad, often with humor and sometimes with sadness, but always with an opportunity for you to make a practical life application. Drawing on wisdom and instruction from Scripture, Keith Payne seeks to encourage and inspire you to a better outlook and outcome, regardless of your circumstances. Divided into weekly readings, these stories are designed to inspire you to be "decidedly different" and consider all of the life circumstances facing you-even the difficult ones-as opportunities to embrace a positive, faith-based outlook. By doing so, your attitude will blossom, and your smile and laughter will be contagious; you will have discovered that the best is always... still yet to come .

My Mother, Doreen Hilda Payne (nee Jardine) executed much of this research, tracing our forebears' history back to the 1800

A broken ladderb Recognizing that "I am poorer than that" changes our lives! Experimental psychology on the effects of inequality on individuals overall lives "Inequality is our thinking, Action, and health! "- Susan Kane, author of" Quiet " " This book will change your world view! " - Sonya Rybakusky, "Happiness Needs Practice" b We often connect inequality with poverty. In fact, they are often poor and feel relatively deprived. However, many people are middle-class ordinary people, but they live in a tight state and feel that everything will be better if they earn a little more. To understand inequality, you have to look at the ladder of status beyond money. So far, many books have been published that evaluate the causes of inequality and political and economic impacts from a macro perspective. No work was done. Psychologist Keith Payne, a psychiatrist who came from a slum in the state of Kentucky, USA, experienced both inequality and self-esteem. He uses experimental psychology to analyze the inequalities of peoples inequities in decision making, politics, retirement planning, It explains how it affects faith. To reduce inequality, an understanding of how wealth distribution affects our way of thinking and acting should be preceded. The "ladder" of this broken "ladder" is used as a metaphor of inequality. As you climb a ladder you can enjoy better status, income, health, safety, and the future, but even death is unequal if you are at the bottom of the ladder. Through various studies in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics, the author not only vividly shows how the perception of I am poorer than this person changes our lives, but also misinterprets poverty as a persons personal defect Correct it.