The Cultivation of Evil On the night of August 8, 1969, in an unsuspecting Los Angeles, five innocent people were brutally slaughtered by a group known as “The Family.” The next night, two unknowing individuals’ lives’ were also taken by the same Family. The mastermind behind these acts was cult leader, Charles Manson, a brilliant and calculated man. Manson used his exceptional charm and manipulation to coerce his young and impressionable followers to do whatever he said. These murders sparked an insight into the age-old question of whether evil is innate or learned. While many people may believe these acts could only be committed by naturally evil people, the troubled past that these individuals had contributed to their actions. The Manson …show more content…
Through relentless repetition and reinforcement, what was once unthinkable became normalized; violence became second nature to them. Manson skillfully manipulated his followers into believing that their actions were not only justified but also symbolic of their unwavering loyalty to him. These individuals were not inherently predisposed to violence; rather, they were meticulously trained to cultivate such tendencies. Moreover, the presence of drugs and other substances within the group further facilitated the disintegration of moral inhibitions. The family relied heavily on drugs, and Krenwinkel and Van Houten attest to their consistent state of intoxication during their time with Manson. In this altered state, their judgment was clouded, and their capacity for rational decision-making was compromised. Manson exploited their vulnerability, using their drug-induced haze to his advantage in manipulating them more easily. As they became increasingly desensitized to violence, their capacity for empathy diminished, allowing them to commit unspeakable acts under the command of