what is psychology of evil course

Psychology of Evil Evil has been a focus of study since time immemorial. Recently psychologists have attempted to examine and explain why certain people act in destructive and horrific ways toward others. This course is an examination of the darker side of human behaviour and how psychology attempts to define and understand evil.

Full Answer

What is the role of Psychology in the study of evil?

Psychological scientists are much needed to contribute to our knowledge, as well as to actually reduce evil and promote goodness. Staub, E. (1989). The roots of evil: The origins of genocide and other group violence.

What is evil in simple terms?

John and Ken start by trying to get their heads around the concept of evil itself. They begin by considering evil actions and move on to evil people, but each time they end up with the same unsatisfying and circular conclusion: that, in its simplest form, evil is about doing ‘bad’ things and that people do ‘bad’ things because they’re evil.

Is there such a thing as ‘evil’?

Professor Baron-Cohen argues that ‘evil’ is an unhelpful term to use in this context, because it carries philosophical connotations outside the realm of science. A better term would be ‘cruelty,’ which denotes actions carried out with diminished empathy.

How do you recognize true evil?

An error occurred while retrieving sharing information. Please try again later. True evil seems easy to recognize: the killing of innocent children; assigning whole populations to death by gassing, or napalm, or aerial bombing. These acts go beyond the criminal, the mean, the bad.

What is the psychology of evil?

Evil is the exercise of power. And that's the key: it's about power. To intentionally harm people psychologically, to hurt people physically, to destroy people mortally, or ideas, and to commit crimes against humanity.

What is the purpose of psychology course?

Psychology classes help you learn the scientific method, how to evaluate sources of information, and how to think critically about the information you encounter every day. These classes can help you hone these skills, which prove useful in a variety of careers and different areas of life.

What is taught in human psychology?

Human Psychology is the science of mind and human behavior. The general definition may refer to the profession, also referred to as clinical psychology; the scholarly discipline, referred to as academic psychology or educational psychology; or the scientific pursuit, research psychology.

Is psychology a good career?

Psychology is a highly rewarding and lucrative field of study. A psychologist salary depends on many factors like his/her qualification, area of specialization, and experience in the profession.

What are the 5 main goals of psychology?

Psychology, as science has basically the following main aims or goals: understand, predict, describe, influence, and control behavior, and improve the quality of life.

Can I study psychology at home?

Today, there are plenty of great ways to learn more about the human mind and behavior such as taking a college course, signing up for a free online class, or self-studying using online resources.

Can you self study psychology?

Even as a solo learner, you can still enroll yourself in a psychology course, which will allow you access to hundreds of modules and pieces of information that will be beneficial to you while you work independently.

How can I become a psychologist after 12th?

Answer: To become a psychologist you should do any of the psychology courses after 12th, such as BA, BA (Hons), B.Sc, or B.Sc (Hons). Thereafter, pursue your specialization by doing the relevant master's degree. You can further specialize by doing a Ph.

Overview

Evil has been a focus of study since time immemorial. Recently psychologists have attempted to examine and explain why certain people act in destructive and horrific ways toward others. This course is an examination of the darker side of human behaviour and how psychology attempts to define and understand evil.

Course Offerings

Thank you for your interest in this course. At this time, there are no upcoming classes scheduled. New offerings in future terms will appear below so you are encouraged to check back again throughout the year. To inquire about when upcoming classes might be planned, please fill in the form on this page and we will respond shortly.

What Is It

True evil seems easy to recognize: the killing of innocent children; assigning whole populations to death by gassing, or napalm, or aerial bombing. These acts go beyond the criminal, the mean, the bad.

Listening Notes

John and Ken start by trying to get their heads around the concept of evil itself. They begin by considering evil actions and move on to evil people, but each time they end up with the same unsatisfying and circular conclusion: that, in its simplest form, evil is about doing ‘bad’ things and that people do ‘bad’ things because they’re evil.

Podcast

Throughout history, people have committed all kinds of cruel, degrading, and evil acts toward other people.

What does evil mean in psychology?

Good and Evil and Psychological Science. To me, evil means great human destructiveness. Evil can come in an obvious form, such as a genocide. Or it can come in smaller acts of persistent harm doing, the effects of which accumulate, like parents being hostile and punitive, or a child being picked on by peers day after day for a long time.

How do cultures influence behavior?

Cultures and social systems influence not only group behavior but also shape individual psychology. Until not long ago, children were seen in many Western cultures as inherently willful. It was thought that to become good people, their will must be broken early, using severe punishment to do so.

Why is it important to be a psychological scientist?

Psychological scientists are much needed to contribute to our knowledge, as well as to actually reduce evil and promote goodness.

What is the disproportionate amount of violence and crime in ordinary societies?

A disproportionate amount of violence and crime in ordinary societies is perpetrated by the small minority of people with antisocial personality traits. And an even smaller percentage are psychopaths, at the extreme end of the spectrum of antisocial traits—the ones most likely to commit sadistic acts of violence. 3.

What is the moral of a person who harms others?

Most people are moral and self-controlled. Most people who intentionally harm others don't think of themselves as evil, tending to minimize or justify their actions—in crime and in war.

What is the vast majority of people with irrational beliefs running counter to reality?

The vast majority of people with irrational beliefs running counter to reality are merely credulous and lacking critical thinking; most people who believe weird things are not delusional in the clinical sense. Belief in implausible conspiracy theories is simply a more extreme manifestation of the.

Why do people exercise self control?

The answer is that violent impulses are typically restrained by inner inhibitions; people exercise self-control to avoid lashing out at others every time they might feel like it. ". 13 Violence is often the result of reduced self-control or a breakdown of societal control. 14.

Which lobe of the brain is responsible for controlling self-control?

Inhibitory control or self-control is largely a function of the frontal lobes of our brains (especially the prefrontal cortex). As the neuroscientist and biological anthropologist Robert Sapolsky pithily puts it: The frontal lobe helps us do the harder thing when it's the right thing to do. 15.