Self-fulfilling prophecy.

If there was such a thing, Vegas wouldn't have so many lovers crying out their eyes in the street. They too BELIEVED they had a winning system. Prophecy didn't fulfill itself.

Contrivance. If you consistently look for the worst in people, they will tend to show you less then their best. No man is an island.

What you are saying is that because I believe YOU are dishonest, I can make you dishonest and if I were to believe YOU are honest, I can make you honest. Do I have that power over you? Are you a thief and liar because I believe you are? I think not. I can be more watchful for your flaws and see them but I have no power to make you commit crime because I believe you will any more than you have over me.

I could be more watchful for your screw ups and therefore you are less than you should be or less watchful and you APPEAR to be better than you are. I cannot make you good or bad regardless of my thought process. I don't believe in you and you don't disappoint me. Worst case, you do what I thought you would do and I am not caught with my pants down. Best case, you surprise me. Believing in you and not being on guard gets me caught behind the 8 ball or expecting good from you so it is a push.

We all influence each other.

I can give you the means, motive and opportunity but it doesn't mean you have to commit the crime. Just because the hottest girl I have seen hits on me and offers to buy me a motel room with a hot tub doesn't mean I have to go along. Of course, if you are weak and need to find someone to blame, I understand the inability to resist and unwillingness to take personal responsibility for one's action.

My good friend was an alcoholic. No AA, no goat sacrifice, no nothing. He just decided to quit. My wife and I drink wine and he drinks soda. His reason was "I might be ok with a sip today but next week I might want another and so on till I am back to being a drunk. I want better for myself so I avoid alcohol.". When he stayed with us, there was easy access to good wine. You could say I made it easy for him to drink and influence him by drinking in front of him and blame me if he went back but the fault lay with him as did success. As I said, if you are weak, you will find an excuse. "The man held me down" or as the british would say "It's a fair cop, guv but the society's to blame".