ABSTRACT
This chapter describes three main sources of intrinsic appeal and satisfaction from performing violent acts. First, sadism involves deriving pleasure directly from the suffering of the victim. An opponent-process model is suggested. Second, the quest for thrilling sensations to escape from boredom can produce violent acts. Third, threatened egotism entails that one's favorable view of self has been attacked, and violent responses are directed toward the source of this attack. Relevant individual differences moderate these patterns. Analyzing the intrinsic appeal of evil acts is a useful complement to analyzing situational determinants of violence. The essence of the magnitude gap is that the victim loses more than the perpetrator gains. As examples, the amount of money for which a thief can sell stolen property is generally less than the replacement cost to the victimized owner. Narcissism is defined by highly favorable, even grandiose views of self, as well as the desire to be admired by others.
