ABSTRACT
This chapter considers some of the social conditions that can either foster or discourage evil behavior, both in predisposed personalities and sometimes in ordinary people. A cultural history of aggression as a way of dealing with conflict also contributes to a predisposition to violence. Social psychologists describe the processes of deindividuation and dehumanization as a way of explaining anti-social behavior such as lynch mobs. Nationalism creates a sense of in-group cohesion by emphasizing the shared greatness of a people, their history, and values. Social psychologists emphasize the individual's susceptibility to the influence of the immediate situation when describing behavior, thoughts, and feelings. Some social scientists define evil in terms of the morally unjustified infliction of violence. Evil behavior is not restricted to individuals; collectives, such as nations, ethnic and tribal groups, religious sects, and corporations may also behave in evil ways by being cruel, exploitative, or oppressive.
