Integrity matters. It’s the bedrock of good character. Integrity is so important that we expect it from people we don’t even know.
That was proven true years ago on the television sitcom Friends, one of the most popular shows in the 1990s and early 2000s. Just how loyal fans of the show were became clear during season five. Lead character Chandler Bing falls in love with another lead character, Monica Geller. They eventually become engaged and got married. But, first, the writers proposed a scandal in which Chandler has an affair. The subplot was meant to cap off the season with a tantalizing cliffhanger.
But that version of the story never made it to air. Why? Because the actor who played Chandler, the late Matthew Perry, rejected the idea. He told producers that the audience would never forgive his character if he cheated on Monica. A Chandler Bing with no integrity would ruin the show.
The desire for integrity is hardwired into our humanity. It’s woven so deeply into who we are that we even demand integrity from characters on television where the consequences are make believe. How much more important is it to real life where real marriages and families are on the line?
Integrity matters. Without it, trust breaks down and relationships crumble. With it, we thrive.
