Wartsandall

I'm just curious regarding what everyone thinks about this. Personally, I think it's neither. I believe there are various components that are involved in this. (Ex: genetics, perception, etc.) However, that is solely my perspective and I'm interested in knowing what the parents believe about this issue.

TheGFG

Please define "evil".

Wartsandall

Wow, again, this is something that varies amongst individuals. If you can, give me a response based off of your beliefs regarding what it means.

zoosermom

I just read a fascinating book called "Anatomy of Evil" that discusses the psychology of this question.

Wartsandall

O really? Where did you buy it, or did you just check it out at the library?

zoosermom

It's available on Amazon and BN.com. Author is Michael Stone. I highly recommend it.

Marian

Are we all evil, anyway?

Wartsandall

^I think that's where perception is involved. What's evil to one can be considered good to another. One must also take into account the idea of alteration. Can an evil person be changed? If they are changed, would that make them not evil?

^^Thanks! I'll definitely look into it.

missypie

According to the Christian Bible, we are born with a "sin nature." But yeah, you have to wonder if Hitler would have turned out the same way had he been raised differently by different people.

My husband has an evil twin. Seriously. He's not evil as in being a murderer but every aspect of his life is dominated by money; acquiring money is his sole motivation in life. He doesn't steal, but he does get folks involved in questionable investments where he makes a lot of money and the investor doesn't.

My husband is nothing like him, yet they were raised simultaneously under identical circumstances. How did they turn out so differently?

Wartsandall

^That makes me wonder about genetics. Perhaps it truly does vary between individuals? Is it just about mentality? People undergo evil actions with a purpose behind those actions, but their intentions are seen by some to be morally wrong. However, are they, or is it just what society has led us to believe? I'm Christian too, so my religion tells me to believe one thing, but I feel that by challenging certain beliefs one is able to acquire a better comprehension regarding why something is the way it is.

I found this on the internet:
If we are born evil, then all humans are bound to follow a specific path, which means that the creator of that individual has predestined that individual for evil acts, something that in turn would suggest that the creator is evil?

I obviously don't agree with this, but I found it to be intriguing to a certain extent.

I'm beginning to wonder if it really is just the mentality of an individual. However, when I look at younger people and their ignorance at a young age, I can't help but question whether or not society or the environment in which the individual grows up in has some influence.

Consolation

"We" are not born evil. I find the idea of "original sin" an obscenity.

There is undoubtedly some combination of nature and nurture at work in those who choose to act creatively and constructively and those who choose to act cruelly and destructively. One can easily tell the difference between them, even though the destroyers often act in the name of "good."

atomom

The book, People of the Lie, by M. Scott Peck might interest you. I read it long ago, so I don't remember it in detail, but I do remember that it helped me understand "evil" people and personality disorders. (I've had to deal with some weird people in my life!)

I've always been fascinated by this subject--What makes people do evil things? What is the psychology/biology/chemistry behind it? How can criminals torture and murder others with no remorse? Why do some people have perverted obsessions? How are their brains different from "normal" people's brains? What kind of parents and upbringing did they have?

I think everyone could have a tendency toward evil, but, as a result of our upbringing and "normal" brains, for most of us our motivation to be "good" (or obey the law, at least) far outweighs the temptation to do bad stuff.

I remember hearing that the Russian "Mafia," when recruiting "hit men" looked for kids raised in orphanages and on the streets-- because those kids could kill without remorse.

mathmom

I'm the opposite of Christian. I believe everyone has human worth and it's up to us to find it and nurture it in the people we meet. "Act so as to elicit the best in another and thereby in oneself." - Felix Adler

Wartsandall

^^That's an interesting point. However, are we just considered normal because we are composed of the majority of the population? I would think genetics, or at least the structure of one's body would have some influence. I also believe that the evil qualiities, or at least what we as a society believe are evil qualities can be overcome. For example, Hitler and Beethoven. Hitler portrayed signs of evil and remorse from a young age, and is considered(righfully) evil by society. However, when acknowledging geniuses like Beethoven and Einstein, could one also claim that those individuals, being different from society, could have also possessed some evil, or different perspectives and ambitions if it hadn't been for them finding some outlook? (Ex:inventions and composing music) From my perspective, it seems like the true geniuses are those who are different from society, while they are able to chose whether or not to portray evil or beneficial attributions to society. Therefore, is evil something that can be controlled or altered? Perhaps I should focus on what the first poster asked. I feel that by establishing a definition, one can then establish the qualities and components that compose it. Aside from that though, I'm truly beginning to believe mentality is factored into this.

Consolation

I think that lack of empathy has a lot to do with the willingness to be cruel.

I don't understand what you mean by "portray" in this context.