There are a number of ways evil is conceptualised throughout cultures across the globe. Is it a supernatural force? Is it part of the human condition? What shape does it take? Does it even exist at all? Betty (2005) approaches this question through examining cross cultural instances of 'demonic possession' and seeks to understand how psychiatry should respond to such cases. By accepting that evil exists and can be represented in the form of supernatural spirits (Betty 2005: 14) Betty represents an interesting position that contrasts with the views of Western scientific materialism. While Betty acknowledges that spirit possession or oppression may be explained by a diagnosis of multiple personality disorder and that not all instances of mental illness can be accounted for by evil spirits (2005: 24-25), he nevertheless finds these explanations unsatisfactory and continues to question the Western materialist perspective. Another view of evil is that put forward by the likes of Arendt and Zimbardo. Rosenthal (2011) explains that in this perspective, evil as a malevolent external force does not exist, but rather humans may commit horrendous acts if they find themselves in a particular set of circumstances (156).
References
Betty, Stafford. 2005. 'The Growing Evidence for ‘‘Demonic Possession’’:What Should Psychiatry’s
Response be?'. Journal of Religion and Health, 44(1): 13-30.
Rosenthal, Abigail L. 2011. 'Defining Evil Away: Arendt's Forgiveness'. Philosophy, 86(2): 175-174.
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