Are we evil by nature?: brief anatomy of human darkness

Evil has always been and always will be. In this sense, we ask ourselves: what is the anatomy of human darkness like? The answer necessarily starts from the fact that man, since he set foot on earth, has always exercised violence. There is violence in survival and it is also exercised to control power and, in turn, to revolt against the abuse and domination of tyrants.

It is worth reflecting on whether aggression is synonymous with evil or whether evil implies a more elaborate motivation.. In this sense, ethologists, who are people who study behaviors that are present from birth (innate behaviors), maintain that the aggressive instinct has a survival character and, as such, is far from being negative for the species.

The difference between aggression and evil is that the former could be useful for the survival of the species, while the latter involves the perversion of morality.

What is evil?

For Dr. Huneuss, Evil is treating a human being without respecting what makes them human: their humanity. Malignant behavior is based on two key assumptions:

The situation that is accepted, with a victim who is considered weak, incompetent or inferior. This mental construction motivates them to be treated as objects. The assumption that the victim, who has been stripped of their humanity, constitutes a threat to the abuser’s own physical and psychological safety, so that any behavior that involves harm or destruction to the victim is justified.

In the article that we bring today we are going to talk with greater specificity about the evil that is exercised by and in the group; as well as those who exercise it: the torturers.

Group evil

For psychologist Stanley Milgram, humans have the potential to exercise evil and disconnect from the pain of remorse.

Conformity bias

Milgram launched the most iconic investigation into evil. It was carried out at Yale University. His concern was to find reasons that justified the majority of Germany siding with Nazism, and that many would do the atrocities they did.

The research gave shape to the so-called conformity bias. In this sense, conformity bias is defined as the tendency that people have to act as those around us do, instead of following the dictates of our values.

Milgram’s results

Milgram’s theory differentiates two psychological states to answer why there are individuals who practice evil within a group:

The state of autonomy explains the fact that people feel responsible for their actions. and use their own conscience as a guide to behavior. On the contrary, People under the influence of the agentic state consider that, being part of a hierarchy, the authorities are the ones who have to take responsibility of their actions (even if those who have mistreated, injured or killed are themselves) because the orders of the authorities act as a guide to correct action.

People who are under the agentic state are not responsible for their actions.

What training do torturers receive?

The anatomy of human darkness becomes a specialty to train in cases of war and as a consequence of the ambition of governments.

Strength, endurance and intelligence seem to be intrinsic obligations of the position. In this regard, The most sought-after qualities, according to experts Isella and Huneuss, are the following:

Submission to authority figures. The goal is for them to be able to reach the agentic state. They come from a conventional lifestyle with beliefs that traditions are important.Perseverance and the ability to endure training that is often brutal.Virtue or belief that what they do is the morally right thing.Fear of intimidation by superiors.

In conclusion, evil can be exercised individually and in groups and involves stripping the victims of the conditions that make them equal to the rest, ripping humanity from their souls.

You might be interested…