Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side

What is it about evil that we find so compelling? From our obsession with serial killers to violence in pop culture, we seem inescapably drawn to the stories of monstrous acts and the aberrant people who commit them. But evil, Dr. Julia Shaw argues, is all relative, rooted in our unique cultures. What one may consider normal, like sex before marriage, eating meat, or being a banker, others find abhorrent. And if evil is only in the eye of the beholder, can it be said to exist at all? In Evil, Shaw uses case studies from academia, examples from and popular culture, and anecdotes from everyday life to break down complex information and concepts like the neuroscience of evil, the psychology of bloodlust, and workplace misbehavior. This is a wide-ranging exploration into a fascinating, darkly compelling subject.

Author: Julia Shaw
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Published: 02/11/2020
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.00w x 0.90d
ISBN13: 9781419735196
ISBN10: 1419735195
BISAC Categories:
- Psychology | Social Psychology
- Social Science | Criminology
- Social Science | Human Sexuality (see also Psychology | Human Sexuality)

About the Author

Dr. Julia Shaw is a senior lecturer in criminology and psychology at University College London. Born in Germany and raised in Canada, she has an MS in psychology and law and a PhD in psychology from the University of British Columbia. She is a regular contributor to Scientific American.