Is an abusive person, evil?

Question

Is it evil to belittle, denigrate, scapegoat, and make fun of someone until they are demoralized, subjugated, and traumatized? Is the verbal and emotional abuser who keeps his victim in suspense and fear an evil person? Is the person with the need to control others evil?

The concept of "evil" in this age of moral relativism is slippery and ambiguous. The "Oxford Companion to Philosophy" (Oxford University Press, 1995) defines it thus: "The suffering which results from morally wrong human choices."

To qualify as evil a person (Moral Agent) must meet these requirements:

1. That he can and does consciously choose between the (morally) right and wrong and constantly and consistently prefers the latter;

2. That he acts on his choice irrespective of the consequences to himself and to others.

Clearly, evil must be premeditated.

So how evil applies to an abusive person?

Thanks

Answer 1

Hello FH!

Good question. I was at a conference on gender justice and a woman said something like - remember, there are no monsters. these people are often our husbands, brothers, and friends'

i thought about it a lot.  i wished i had been able to think like her - i admired it, but didn't feel like i could likewise feel the same. in particular, i was thinking of the atrocity rapes in congo. how can one not think of these men as monsters, i thought.

likewise, i am reading a book about america's use of torture (long history, unfortunately). i'm having a hard time reading it but i want to learn about it. again, i think, are these people monsters?

i do think there are evil or monstrous people in the world, ppl who have not regard or respect for others.  i understand there are often reasons for it, including perhaps biological/genetic ones.

however, i struggle with it. i also struggle to understand 'forgiveness' sometimes - like how african groups forgave soldiers for horrific rapes/murders or how the amish forgave the guy that killed 5 little girls.

totally interesting concepts and incredible ways for humans to deal with horror - but ones i continue to struggle with. i'm a compassionate person, but see abuse and violence as senseless. (and don't buy the 'survival' or evil-as-necessary arguments).

(oh, and in regard to DV, i wouldnt see people as evil unless they committed really painful or humiliating acts to the spouse or children.)

Answer 2

I don't think they are evil.

Abusive people that I have met have usually been one or some combination of the following: narcissistic (self-centred; arrogant); insecure; controlling; lacking empathy; and usually ineffectual in life - just generally not very successful in one way or another. Oh, and some have been extremely charming as well.

I don't know what can be done to change abusive behaviour. Right now all we seem to have are police and legal intervention. It seems to me that some might change their behaviour when the odds of them suffering serious consequences as a result of it weigh against them.

Other than that;  I don't yet know of any successes in changing the underlying beliefs in which violence is based.

How does one get some bully to see what's happening through the victim's  (or even an observer's) eyes ? How can people be made empathic ? I just don't know.

Answer 3

some abusers are products of their environment aren't they, so you can't say that these people are inherently "evil".

i prefer "personality disorder", evil is a religious concept.

Answer 4

Yes an abusive person is evil

Anyone that gets a kick out of harming another is a sick f***

Also pretty sick though..are bystanders that are aware of whats going on and dont do a thing

Answer 5

In my books, there is a third and more important requirement, and that is intelligence.  It takes intelligence to understand the difference between right and wrong...and I would say that there are many who don't possess that level of intelligence.  Also, it takes intelligence to think things through to the consequence level...and again - I don't think that all abusers are capable of that.

Abuse, to me, is bullying.  An individual finds another who is weaker than himself and attempts to exert his will, by any means.  Often, that comes in the form of breaking down the other mentally, emotionally and physically.  I don't think it takes great intelligence to do that - so I don't necessary label that as 'evil.  Wrong, yes - but I think you give the abuser too much credit to suggest their is evil at work.  The average abuser, anyway...

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

"Evil... to cause harm, destruction or misfortune"

Yes, IMO anyone that shows such a loathsome and ignorant side of human behaviour is evil. He feels no shame for his actions and therefore has no conscience.

Answer 8

People are not their actions. To demon-ize somebody for their actions by calling them evil is abusive in itself.

There are hundreds of reasons why somebody may consciously choose between morally right and wrong and consistently prefers the latter, then acts irrespective of consequences to himself and to others. Morality is a social construct determined by geography, history and time. A male who fell in love with another man was considered evil not too long ago and still is in some societies.

What about people who act in accordance with their religious faith when it directs that you should stone people to death for adultry or the motivations for 911 for example?

What about people who are unable to morally reason? Or who have been really poorly parented?

What about people who are forced into consciously choosing morally wrong actions through addictions to illegal substances?

What about young children that are dragged into prostitution as a means of survival, is prostitution immoral? Are these children evil?

What about people who are failed by the systems and laws which are meant to protect them? I am thinking here about the man who's wife was murdered and who's daughter was placed in care and systematically raped, who when the systems and laws failed to punish the offender, systematically targeted him and eventually killed him. Or the Pakistani shopkeeper who after years of violent abuse against himself and his family started a hate campaign against the offender.

What about somebody who has acted in any of the ways above as a young teenager then spent the rest of their lives acting in ways which benefit society.

Is somebody who has served a jail sentence for their offence always to be labeled evil?

What about soldiers? How can killing people be considered evil unless it is during a war in order for your country to get political or economic advantage? Are all soldiers evil?

I state again: People are not their actions. To demon-ize somebody for their actions by calling them evil is abusive in itself.

Answer 9

I think an abusive person is different from that of an evil one. When I think of evil, I think of those who are in essence predators. Sexual predators, serial killers - those who prey on the "weak".

Abusers prey on those around them. Wives, children, etc. I think some of them can be as evil as those who seek out people randomly, but I don't think they are inherently evil. They just like to blame their misery on others and use them to take out their aggression. It's wrong, but I don't think it defines evil.

Usually my definition of someone evil is that of a person who knows right from wrong and simply doesn't care, and thinks they are superior to everyone - men, women and law enforcement. A narcissist, basically.

Answer 10

All evil comes when you are unable to feel empathy for the other person. When you don't see a living being as a living being but 't as an object.

We are all capable of being evil, and we all are. Being able to not think of a living being as a living being prevents us from being insane.

For example, you don't think of the suffering that a plant or an animal had when you eat the animal or plant. You don't think of the suffering of a tree when you cut it. You don't think if the grass is feeling anything when you walk on top on it.

So being evil is natural. And necessary for our survival. Problem comes when the evilness is unnecessary for survival.

If the abuser don't see the other person as a person, then yes its evil.

If the abuser see the other person as a person but want to discipline the other person because he/she believes is for his/her own good. The abuser is not evil, but confused. It could be various degrees of confusion from a simple one to just being fcking nuts.

Sometimes the abuser is not evil, but have weighted their choices.  But this is only on dire circumstances.

Answer 11

"Evil" is such a nebulous concept, as you pointed out. To some it has religious or otherwordly overtones, so I generally avoid it. It's also used in jest a lot. Personally, I have some "evil" things lurking in the back of my fridge right now.

Abusive people are violent, uncaring, self-centered, emotionally damaged and a waste of carbon, yes.

Answer 12

Maybe, in some cases, abusers aren't inherently evil. They have just grown accustomed to thinking that abuse is normal and, therefore, good. This would apply to those who have grown up in abusive households. That doesn't excuse abuse, of course, but it might explain it.

Answer 13

An abusive person is not evil but the action of abuse is evil. Abusive people should not be pitied over their victims, and it's certainly not an excuse for their behavior, but they were often victims of abuse in childhood or watched as one of their parents (typically the father) abused the other. This means they really should receive psychological treatment. Their behavior is not "normal" human behavior and thus they have problems.

Abuse is morally repugnant but calling someone "evil" is very problematic.

Answer 14

Abusive is very relative term. What is abusive for one is an act of defense for the other.

Answer 15

Good Question,

I don't think a lot of people who are abusive are evil. the way some of them grow up watching family members abuse each other they think it's the only way. some are very lucky they grow up with abuse but they BREAK the cycle like I did. a lot of people who have been abused will NOT abuse anyone NO matter what.

OK maybe a few people may be evil. I mean if they know what right and wrong is and they choose to be wrong and hurt other people and NOT feel bad about it then maybe yes.

This question is a great question. I really wish I could say it better then I did. but you know I don't consider my parents who abused each other and me evil. I just think they are STUPID. sorry hope this makes sense God Bless

Answer 16

That is what you call an evil, antisocial, narcissistic, sociopathic, psychopath.

Answer 17

Not necessarily, it's more likely an impulse control issue.

The same stimulus that might cause you to slam a door ,stop your feet or sulk, might make someone else give you a verbal beating or a smack upside the head .

Answer 18

Yes, but the abuser can be caring and good at times, which is why so many people find it hard to leave their abuser....It's the good side of the abuser that we fall in love with, and we just want to forget their bad side.  I've been with abusive people all of my life from parents to boyfriends to friends.  They definitely have their positive characteristics, but they turn into a monster once their abusive behavior comes out.

Then again, I think people in general are a mix of good and bad.  Nobody is purely evil or purely good.

To people who aren't victims, I suppose abusers are seen as evil because they're witnessing how much damage you are causing to the victim.

Answer 19

Abusive people, I think, are just dealing with weaknesses. Character flaws, if you will. They seem to be dealing with a lot of fear, anger and lack of self-control. Their "actions" can be considered evil, but do those actions make them inherently evil through and through?

I have such a hard time wrapping my mind around a person being completely evil. Larger concepts come to mind when I try to visualize that state of being. What made Charles Manson so heinous? What made Hitler the murderer of the masses? Those folks were dealing with an elevated level of evil! I almost want to phrase the question like this: Whatever "posessed" them to do the things they did?

It's almost like they got so infused with a feeling of power--not fear, or anxiety, or even rage--so that they calmly, cruelly committed repeated violent acts free from the burden of conscience...

WHat's that then? Is that psychosis? Were they sociopaths? The kinds of people who don't feel guilt due to some faulty wiring in their brains? And if their actions were beyond their control because of faulty wiring, are they still guilty? Are you evil if you can't help it? That refutes the dictionary's definition.

But here's the rub: A few rare times in my life, I've been at the mercy of someone with very dark and evil intentions. My skin prickled. I felt totally uncomfortable. Every cell in my body screamed "Run!" "Get out!" It was like some instinct in me (self preservation?) detected something very detrimental in the other person, labled it EVIL, and all I wanted to do was get the heck out of dodge.

I've also been around "abusive" people I didn't even know were abusive until a much later date.

I'm going to suggest that evil is something very peculiar. Some force of nature that's more than just actions and choices. It's dark and sinister and ugly and frightening and you could be blind and deaf and probably still notice that you were in the presence of it if it's wrath were directed at you.

But I think most people who are abusive really just need to work some stuff out within themselves and learn restraint. Yeah, I think they can be very "cold" but evil? Certain the things they do are evil, but I'm not convinced that they're all that far gone in themselves...

Very, very interesting question! :)  Turned my brain to slush just thinking baout it.

Answer 20

Abusive people are almost always damaged in some profound way.

But of course, we know that not all people who are damaged become abusive.

Do abusive people *choose* the pattern of their behaviour?

Almost always. Very few are forced to repeat the patterns of abuse they experienced, and the great proportion of them feel guilty and 'bad' after they have been abusive.

Yet they will do it again, because it is easier to repeat an old pattern than face the pain of the past and create a new way of behaving.

However, although the things these people do are evil, I cannot say they are themselves evil, unless they are incapable of changing their ways.

Best wishes :-)