Assignment 1: LASA # 2: PowerPoint Presentation

Advanced General Psychology

PSY492

Literature Findings

M2A3

June 2016

Abstract Comment by Marie: Needs to be centered

Cases of evil deeds are not short in the society (Shermer, 2006). The evil activities are not a mystery in the communities for they are committed by persons who are well known. Violence emanates from the mind of a person. There is a need to evaluate whether the violence has been in the mind of a person. Are people evil or are there situations that force people to be evil? The following will help to answer the question whether people are born, acquire or are forced into evil acts. Comment by Marie: comma

Evil behavior cans emanate from different areas. Such areas of study are themed. According to Bartlett (2008), mental illness promotes the theme of the psychology of morality. Survival promotes the theme of the science of evil. Demeaning cultural activities support the theme of sociological perspective. Fun and excitement promote the theme of the psychology of morality.

Javaid (2015) says that from the examples given by Hitler and Kim Jong-Hu among others who commit evil crimes are adults. People with weak morals will take to evil deeds quickly. People with mental illness have unstable decisions that make them do unknowingly evil deeds. Persons who are candidates for mental health need to be put under rehabilitation where they are on a 24-hour surveillance. People from a young age need to be taught what is moral to ensure they have and practice good deeds into their adulthood. Comment by Marie: cite the source

Introduction

The paper looks at the evil aspect of persons. Cases of evil deeds are not short in the society. Shermer (2006) says that all through revolution from Stone Age to modern age cases of evil activities have always engulfed the societies. The evil activities are not a mystery in the communities for they are committed by persons who are well known. Cases in old age are documented in historical books and religious books like Bible. Cain in the Bible is recorded as the first person to have murdered his brother Abel. He killed out of jealous for Abel’s sacrifice had been accepted and his rejected. One of his generals killed Alexander the great due to thirst for power. The general waited until Alexander had conquered the best part of the word before he murders him. Comment by Marie: word choice

Are people evil or situations causes’ people evil? The question will answer the question whether people are born, acquire or are forced into evil acts. Violence emanates from the mind of a person. There is a need to evaluate whether the violence has been in the mind of a person. Most of the evil characters are aged twelve years and above. Psychological studies have focused on establishing the origin of such evil thoughts and deeds. Pathologists have dedicated their time to studying why people commit evil acts on self and others (Bartlett, 2008). That has seen them take keen interest to consider cells of evil persons upon their death to determine whether they have any significant differences with those of average person’s cells. Over years psychiatrists, psychologist and pathologist have dedicated their time to crack the misery that surrounds the cause of evil persons and their deeds. Causes of evil behavior will be evaluated in the discussion. Themes that support immoral behavior will be discussed before a an analysis in terms of findings and implication is done to the themes. Conclusion of whether evil are an inborn or acquired attribute will be made at the end. Comment by Marie: delete Comment by Marie: comma

Literature review

According to Bartlett (2008), mentally ill persons have been linked to some crimes committed. Mental illness promotes the theme of the psychology of molarity. Most of the persons are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline and antisocial personality disorders. Such patients have poor relationships with families and other individuals making it difficult to establish what they are thinking. The persons harbor thoughts that are explosive to self and others. Such thoughts in borderline conditions are suicidal in nature where individuals naturally believe that committing an evil act is something exemplary. Their human feelings are long gone. Individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are full of revenge for life activities like the road accident or witness to terrorist activities are angered by the perpetrators. Hence, their evil acts are most likely to be aimed at persons that are connected to the authors of the traumatic events. In America, most of the gun incidences have been traced to individuals who are mentally unstable. Comment by Marie: cite the source

Shermer (2006) says that survival since times immemorial has been essential for both fauna and flora. Survival promotes the theme of the science of evil. Those fighting to survive view it as a good act while those on the receiving end view it as wrong act. Survival is critical to all living things, especially to people. People cherish life and success much and will do anything within their power to survive any onslaught which aims at attacking any of the sides. Hitler based his propaganda that Germany was doing great during the first world war and was only defeated after betrayal by Israelites. His focus on the Second World War was not only to win the war but to punish the Jews. That is why he oversaw the Holocaust on over one million Jews. He described Jews as blood sucking parasites who were thankless living in a foreign land. That hatred by Hitler, Germany supreme leader, the greatest inhumane activity executed in the present world. Comment by Marie: comma

Some cultural events promote evil deeds (Javaid, 2015). Cultural activities support the theme of sociological perspective. What is termed as evil action by the outside communities is in fact morality in the firm. Morality is mainly requirements by persons within an individual community. Nigerians, for example, in the time before the mid of the twentieth century they thought birth of twins in the society as evil. Nigerians never had the knowledge of the science behind conception of twins by mothers in the community. The family blessed with twins in Nigeria had to make a choice to dispose of one of the twins in the wild. That was a tough practice but given that bad omen would have befallen the family they had to oblige to practice. The evil practice was promoted as a good practice in the community as it was moral within the community. Though the practice has subsidized, twins are viewed as a bad omen in the community. Comment by Marie: comma Comment by Marie: cite the source

According to Chirico (2012), some people derive happiness from perpetrating evil activities. Fun and excitement promote the theme of the psychology of molarity. I agree that some people draw their happiness from harmful activities. North Korea has been sanctioned by globally by countries with the backing of the United Nations. The penalties emanate from the perceived threat to international peace when it continues with its nuclear bombs plan. The Korean leader Kim Jong-Hu seems to enjoy from the world misery by testing ballistic missiles over the Pacific Ocean. The leader seems overjoyed to have the world attention by superpowers on the country due to their ignorance to promote what can be termed as evil activities. Sanctions have led to a malnourished economy where there are facing famine and drought. That goes against humanity where a person should be concerned when their actions cause negative criticism and suffering to other individuals who depend on them. Comment by Marie: omit Comment by Marie: must stay in 3rd person

Findings and implications

Javaid (2015) says that from the examples given by Hitler and Kim Jong-Hu among others who commit evil crimes are adults. They were over eighteen meaning it was a personal choice to release terror to others. Good deeds had characterized their early age. It provides an insight that evil mind is acquired but not an inborn characteristic. Before becoming the leader in Germany, Hitler was a trade unionist who fought for the rights of fellow workers. That means he was a good person who the hate in First World War affected him. Kim Jong-Hu before ascending to be the supreme leader in North Korea was a polite person. He took to evil deeds to show to fellow citizens and the world that he was in control of the country. He ascended to leadership at 29 years meaning that he was afraid that people would demean him due to young age thus he took to dirty acts. Comment by Marie: comma Comment by Marie: omit Comment by Marie: rephrase for structure Comment by Marie: cite the source

People with weak morals will take to evil deeds quickly (Chirico, 2012). Such persons do not value human life. The individuals only care for self and not anybody else. Communities that promoted evil deeds shows they do not value the life of others. Such communities support impunity in the named of cultural practices that call for human sacrifices for the community to be cleansed from bad omen. The sane case applies to persons who do what is within their means to survive. Survival is wildly an activity that infringes on the rights of the weaker person on whom evil deeds are meet on them. Comment by Marie: cite the source

According to Bartlett (2008), people with mental illness have unstable decisions that make them do unknowingly evil deeds. Such persons have a high probability of making unsound decisions. Individuals who draw excitement to the misfortune of others can be said to be sick. Nobody in their right senses would enjoy while others are suffering due to their deeds. Mentally unstable persons are easy to exploit into conducting evil deeds on self and others. Bad people are quiet persons who have few or no relationships and thus do not have any feelings of getting hurt. These individuals will release evil deeds to unsuspecting persons for it is activities from which they draw happiness. Comment by Marie: cite the source

Conclusion

Evil deeds will not end in the future. The cycle keeps repeating itself where bad people die others are born. More harmful activities that may be of significant scale are bound to happen. However, there is hope that these actions can be prevented. Shermer (2006) says that persons who are candidates for mental health need to be put under rehabilitation where they are on a 24-hour surveillance. The aim into infringing on their rights but rather to prevent them conducting evil acts. Demeaning cultures need to be eliminated by adopting better cultural practices that value and appreciate life as precious. Such can start by parents teaching children news things are shun passing retrogressive cultures to their children. Comment by Marie: rephrase/and this is a rights violation Comment by Marie: comma Comment by Marie: cite the source

According to Chirico (2012), people from a young age need to be taught what is moral to ensure they have and practice good deeds into their adulthood. Good morals that are acceptable and admirable worldwide should be promoted to ensure there are no people who practice hatred on others. Good morals improve uptake of diversity in communities. That will eliminate sadists in who draw happiness in the suffering of others. More research needs to be conducted in the field to ensure that evil deeds by persons whether normal or in unstable mind is drastically reduced. Comment by Marie: omit

References

Bartlett, S. J. (2008). THE HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN EVIL: ERNEST BECKER AND ARTHUR KOESTLER. The Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 48(3), 340. Retrieved from https://login.libproxy.edmc.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/222471962?accountid=34899 Comment by Marie: too much space Comment by Marie: too much space

Chirico, D. (2012, April 01). The Social psychology of morality: Exploring the causes of good and evil. Choice Reviews Online, 49(08), 1539. doi:10.5860/choice.49-4763

Javaid, A. (2015). The sociology and social science of 'evil': Is the conception of pedophilia 'evil'? Philosophical Papers and Review, 6(1), 1-9. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/PPR2014.0112 Comment by Marie: ? Comment by Marie: ? Comment by Marie: ? Comment by Marie: ?

Shermer, M. (2006). The science of good and evil: Why people cheat, gossip, care, share, and follow the golden rule. College Quarterly, 9(3), 175. Retrieved from https://login.libproxy.edmc.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/229297750?accountid=34899 Comment by Marie: space Comment by Marie: space Comment by Marie: space Comment by Marie: space Comment by Marie: space Comment by Marie: space Comment by Marie: space