Dr. Gwen Adshead Good And Evil Essay

‘Evil’ is almost in itself undefinable. As an adjective or as a noun the need to categorize and label ‘evil’ is a common problem tackled throughout history and literature. The most puzzling aspect of ‘evil’ though is how and why humans have the ability to become so inhumane and immoral to commit these malice actions. Many psychologists and psychotherapists have tried to make sense of the transition to evil, including Dr. Gwen Adshead the author of “Capacities and dispositions: reflections on Good and Evil from a forensic psychiatrist,” who defines ‘Evil’ from her experience at Broadmoor Hospital. While defining evil, Adshead explains in her opinion the development of it and how this step towards evil is unintentional. Adshead focuses on the

She conducts from her research that people become evil as they lose their sense of reality and ability to mirror themselves in others: “In our earliest relationships with others, we develop our own sense of self, organized in the mirror of our relationships with others...An absence of mirroring meant that [Narcissus] own sense of self was faulty. Without the mirroring function, we do not learn to self-reflect and without self reflective function, there may be little capacity for empathy”(6). Adshead believes that being able to see ourselves through the eyes and judgement of others is how one develops their empathy and moral identity. Adshead uses the story of Narcissus to explain that he himself was blind to reality as he pushed more and more people away. She concludes that people need this so called “mirroring” ability to see themselves in others to really develop and understand themselves. Without the judgement of others one cannot decipher what is right from wrong and this blindness leaves gaps in reality causing the ‘darkness’. This darkness and inability to develop one’s empathy leads to a state of mind that opens the possibility for evil. She also later touches upon those who are victims to abuse or neglect and how that can destroy one’s self image due to the isolation; further pushing them to become