I am not a Psychologist. Therefore, I am free to comment on a psychodynamic approach to the case of Shannon Sharpe. However, I do have a degree in Psychology and Anthropology, with additional graduate study in Social Work. Moreover, I had five years of practice in the Field of Child Welfare regarding Troubled Children. Those are my credentials. Let’s get into it and have a conversation.
The Shannon Sharpe Case
briefly is: a civil lawsuit pitting forced sex versus consensual. There is no dispute about what happened, only if it was agreed upon or not.
Sharpe, the defendant, is a fifty-six year old, black, Hall of Fame footballer, TV sports commentator, and podcaster. Also known as Shay Shay and Unc.
Gabriella Zuniga, the plaintiff, is a twenty-one year old female. She is suing Sharpe for fifty million dollars in damages.
They met at a gym in LA a few years ago.
The question being asked is: Why would a fifty-four year old man (black or white) who has everything*; and on the verge of signing a contract with ESPN for even more – risk all of that for a piece of young __ __?
He must have known, people are saying. Just as Luigi Mangioni must have known (he’d be caught).*
Psychodynamic
or Freudian theory, posits that much of our behavior is driven by unconscious motivation. Unknown to ourself. This is the basis for psychoanalysis and dream work–to make the unconscious conscious.
Do you think Mr. Sharpe would be willing to go into psychoanalysis? He can afford it. As reported his net worth, before the ESPN deal, was 10 t0 20 million. Also reported is that he’s paying his lawyer, Lanny Davis, 8 million. Because his reputation and earning power is at stake. But, this makes no sense either, because the damage has been done.
My Analysis
for free is: Shannon Sharpe is not at all who he presents himself to be. In fact his ego is weak and he is very insecure. Moreover, this is rooted in his childhood.
Shannon Sharpe grew up poor, without a present father but a stern, forceful, ever present grandmother as substitute. She had control and authority over his life. Shannon openly and often reaps praise and admiration for his grandmother. Because she provided him with the ethos of hard work and perseverance, which combined with his natural physical gifts, and attractiveness, engendered his success.*
Sharpe’s successes all his life led him to think and believe he was deserving of whatever he desired. And what he desired, unconsciously, was power and control over women. To stand up to his grandmother, and for her to allow him to take it easy, sometimes.
Gabriella Zuniga is a substitute for his grandmother.
On a recent chat with Andrew Schultz on Club Shay Shay, Sharpe stated he would never even get into an elevator with a lone women–for fear of being accused of something. Nevertheless, he behaves as he did with a 20 year old, white, Only Fans operator?
This cannot be conscious behavior. Additionally, allegedly, this is a pattern going back decades.
In Conclusion
I’ll take the Behaviorist position of: Rewarded behavior will be repeated. Moreover, all behavior has meaning. This leads me to the proposition that we, you and I, are complicit in male dominant, forceful, sexual behavior towards females.
In fact, recent studies show females have such fantasies, and dreams.
If that’s not enough! We, as fans of athletes, will spend large sums of money, gamble, scream, eat, and go crazy in support of our favorite teams and players. We play a role, unconsciously, in Shannon Sharpe’s behavior towards women.
As Sharpe himself has said, “It is what it is.”
I think this goes to trial. If I were on the jury? I’d find for the plaintiff. Despite my position of a psychodynamic approach to the case of Shannon Sharpe. She was nineteen. The defendant was fifty-four, wealthy, strong and successful. However, I’d reduce the reward to two million dollars.
If you were a juror on this case, what would you say?
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- Everything = all the components of happiness. As I discussed in the previous post “Tariffs”, happiness, i.e. “Everything” consists of six components beginning with good health, sufficient resources (money), a strong ego, comfort and luxury, a pleasant environment, and lastly – congenial friends. On the surface Shannon Sharpe had all six. However, that is what I am arguing. Only on the surface did things appear that way. In fact, Mr. Sharpe was not in good health.
- Must have known = that the relationship wasn’t about love or sex, but money.
- Success = for Sharpe – a stellar football career, against all odds. Additionally, high achievement in television personality as an analyst and debater. Furthermore, in the business world.
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