"People Of The Lie" - A Psychiatrist Looks At "Evil"

 

In his book “People Of The Lie”, which I am reading at the moment, well known American psychiatrist Scott Peck examines once again the question of “evil”. Being a Christian there is a tendency to look at the subject through spectacles somewhat coloured by religious notions, but his attempt does help put the question of evil into perspective.

To really “appreciate the forces acting” on people who are evil, Scott Peck suggests that we look at the phenomenon of narcissism. As a rule we are all self centred to a lesser or greater extent but at some point, although our immediate reaction is to judge a situation or a plan according to our own advantage, most of us do quickly begin to see things from another person’s side as well, that is, from a viewpoint different from our own.

The people whom Dr. Peck refers to as “evil” are those who lack this capacity for empathy, altogether. Hitler sending millions of Jews to the gas chamber for example, was obviously not able to think in the least about how his victims might have felt about being gassed to death. According to Peck, the “evil need victims to sacrifice to their narcissism”

Again, apart from the mystical point of view, each of us at the worldly level, is not only a unique entity but we do also have clearly marked boundaries which need to be recognised and respected if we are to live in peace with each other. A mentally healthy person is able to both, see and appreciate his own boundaries and those of others. “We must know where we end  and others begin”. Narcissistic people lack this ability to distinguish between boundaries.

The tendency of so-called evil people mostly evokes a feeling of repugnance in us and Dr. Peck feels that this is natural. However, while it is important to label a person’s character or actions as evil, he feels that it is necessary for us to also see that evil is a sickness and that the only way to really heal it, is through compassion. On the surface people who are seen as evil might not appear to suffer, but under the surface, they are battling with tremendous currents of fear. It is precisely through the attempt to keep fear at bay and his lack of preparedness to face reality, that an “evil” person develops the kind of personality he does, so as not to have to acknowledge his own suffering.

Uma

 

Comments

[cheap viagra online]

I also do not believe Evil. I have read "People Of The Lie". Really very interesting book. I like to read few more book from same author. I like the following statement Being a Christian there is a tendency to look at the subject through spectacles somewhat coloured by religious notions. it is quite true. Thanks a lot for sharing this information. I also like to read few post from you.

.....Alex

[generic viagra]

Since we don't get the New York Times, what was the article about on this trudeau guy and what's all the bru ha ha about? I know you seem to be upset about it,but west coast folks like me don't get it.

[suresh]

I love the Pic you used for Evil in your pic. It did not evoke any fear in me, as it did in Radha as she commented.

For me it has a certain sexual appeal. Infact in my Rorschach test, I saw devil in most of the blotch pictures.

For me the Devil represents something very magical and surreal... very potent...

And thank God (or the devil?) that he, for one, does not hide behind facades and masks... He is truly himself.

Much Love
Suresh

[Uma]

Point taken, Radha! I almost went and changed the picture. Then this thought came to me: that the pic evokes the very feeling which accompanies the word "evil". Perhaps the challenge is to keep the horror of evil in mind and yet to learn to look at it with compassion rather than with fear. That means, not to prettify the monster you see in the pic but to look at its reality with compassion.

I do see that the pic evokes a very unpleasant feeling but I do not feel like running away from it like you do. (Probably if I had I would not have used it!) What I realise increasingly, is that facing monsters exactly as they come across, makes them eventually seem less threatening (although when it comes to genuine danger one needs to be careful and alert!)

[radha]

hi uma,

the picture is shocking !
and seems difficult to deal with compassion with the aura of what the picture represents.
all it generates is fear and a tremendous sense of self-preservation !

radha