PSYC 3666 - Psychology of Evil 3 s.h.

This seminar-style course examines the theory and research behind the troubling issue of human malice. Readings will address historical and contemporary examples of “evil” as both a moral absolute and a societal construction, focusing on a variety of behaviors from murder and genocide to allegations of vampirism, witchcraft, and Satanism to deep-seated conspiracy beliefs and Internet “trolling.” Humankind’s propensity to perceive and engage in evil is discussed from several angles of the behavioral sciences and humanities, including social psychology (e.g., mob behavior and scapegoating), evolutionary psychology (mate competition), neuroscience (genetic risk markers), individual differences (“dark” personality traits), cultural anthropology (mythology and folklore), and popular culture (portrayals of evil in media and in fiction). With course material spanning several centuries, numerous cultures, and a plethora of real-life examples, this class serves as a stark demonstration that evil has long been, and continues to be, the primary fearful preoccupation of the human species. A-E Only. Offered Fall and Spring.
LA
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 1000 .