The Cognition of Severe Moral Failure: A Novel Approach to the Perception of Evil.

Aner Govrin

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00557

Abstract

I describe the perception of evil as a categorization judgment, based on a prototype, with extensive feedback loops and top-down influences. Based on the attachment approach to moral judgment (Govrin, 2014, 2018), I suggest that the perception of evil consists of four salient features: Extreme asymmetry between victim and perpetrator; a specific perceived attitude of the perpetrator toward the victim's vulnerability; the observer's inability to understand the perpetrator's perspective; and insuperable differences between the observer and perpetrator's judgment following the incident which shake the observer no less than the event itself. I then show that the perception of evil involves a cognitive bias: The observer is almost always mistaken in his attributions of a certain state of mind to the perpetrator. The philosophical and evolutionary significance of this bias is discussed as well as suggestions for future testing of the prototype model of evil.

Highlights

The term “evil” is often used to encourage an intolerant and extreme stance toward an enemy, or someone who violently opposes you
I have suggested that the perception of evil relies on a prototype with a unique set of features
My central assumption is that psychological research of the perception of evil is important and that research into moral judgment must include the perception of evil

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The term “evil” is often used to encourage an intolerant and extreme stance toward an enemy, or someone who violently opposes you. The system extracts the so-called central tendency of the body of exemplars, that is, a complex of common co-occurring features” (113) Such a concept of prototype corresponds with a model of information storage in the brain called state-space representation, which draws on neuroscience (Churchland, 1989; Clark, 1996). Evil is perceived as applicable to events involving intentional harm, is associated with negative emotional reaction and with religious (Satan, Adam and Eve) and secular symbols (money, black) They posit that the that the term “evil” can be applied to acts viewed as coinciding with a prototypical model of harm, intent, and perceived lack of justification. I believe four salient features are found to be present at one and the same time when perceiving evil

Asymmetry Think of all the following dyads

The Perpetrator’s Perceived Attitude to the Victim’s Vulnerability

The Aggressor’s Refusal to Accept Responsibility for His Deeds

Findings

CONCLUSIONS