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Tag(s): Ethics; Government; Political Elite; Politicians; Politicians Corrupt; Psychology Emotional Intelligence; Psychology Emotional Intelligence; Science Research
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February 8, 2007 at 18:46:24

THE SCIENCE OF EVIL AND ITS USES FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES

by Carolyn Baker, Ph.D. Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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EVIL: 1 a: morally reprehensible : sinful, wicked b: arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct 2 aarchaic : inferior b: causing discomfort or repulsion : offensive c: disagreeable 3 a: causing harm : pernicious b: marked by misfortune : unlucky [Merriam-Webster Online]

Canada's Red Pill press has recently published psychologist Andrew M. Lobaczewski's book Political Ponerology (Red Pill Press, Canada, 1998 and 2006) in which the author expounds on his observations that during his years of clinical work in Poland, he noticed a high correlation between acts that most people would label as "evil" and various pathologies. The most apt diagnostic labeling of these individuals in modern psychological jargon would be sociopathic, the most important characteristic of which is the seeming absence of a conscience or empathy in relation to other living beings. Lobaczewski and some of his Eastern European colleagues working under Soviet rule decided to take this study to a higher level and researched how sociopathy was playing out in government, in business, and in other social groups.

Political ponerology (originating from the Greek word for evil, poneros) is a science on the nature of evil adjusted for political purposes which ultimately on a larger scale results in a pathocracy. The research indicates that sociopaths are found in all races, ethnicities, and creeds, and that no group is immune to them. Sociopaths constitute, according to the author, about 6% of the population of any given group. Red Pill's editor states that, "Political Ponerology is a book that offers a horrifying glimpse into the structure underlying our governments, our biggest corporations, and even our system of law." After I read the book, a number of nagging questions about the policies and practices of government and corporate officials began to answer themselves in that Lobaczewski's analysis goes to the heart of why the United States government has become a criminal enterprise hell bent on dominating the world and annihilating vast quantities of human beings globally and domestically.

When I first began the book I was more than a little put off by Lobaczewski's European style of writing-his wordiness and his succinctness-challenged approach. Nevertheless, as I kept reading, and I must admit, struggling with his sentences, I grew increasingly grateful for the book and the friend who gave it to me. As a result, a few of the author's fundamental concepts cry out to be shared, and this article is an attempt to do just that.

Lobaczewski first points out that societies are the most vulnerable to evil during good times. "During good times," he writes, "people progressively lose sight of the need for profound reflection, introspection, knowledge of others, and an understanding of life's complicated laws." (P.85) Certainly, in my lifetime, I have not witnessed an American society willing to reflect and wrestle with the complexities of existence since the Vietnam War. Although much of the protest and activism of the sixties was naively myopic, the tension and angst of the era drove a majority of individuals in the United States to look deeper within themselves than they otherwise might have.

Following upon the heels of the war, of course, came Watergate, and further confirmation that governments always betray their own citizens and always lie about doing so. Then as the ME-generation seventies offered us the deceptions of peace and honest government, the groundwork for the current horrors domestically and internationally were being laid. America was war-weary, and smarting from the wounds of Watergate, acting out Lobaczewski's assertion that "During good times, the search for truth becomes uncomfortable because it reveals inconvenient facts." (85) On the other hand, he states, "Suffering, effort, and mental activity during times of imminent bitterness lead to progressive, generally heightened, regeneration of lost values, which results in human progress." (P.87) Conversely, "The cycle of happy, peaceful times favors a narrowing of the world view and an increase in egotism...." Well, Jung said it long before Lobaczewski: Consciously analyzed suffering produces growth while letting nothing roll besides the good times produces stagnation and delusion.(87)

Perhaps no generation in American history has ever been so vulnerable to egotism as that of the seventies. It became known as the ME generation for a reason-not only because Americans became more personally narcissistic but also because internationally, in spite of losing our first war and weathering the Watergate scandal, we proceeded to demonstrate our superiority as we continued to stage various coups around the world and wage economic warfare on developing nations, setting the stage for Reagan's ascent to power in the eighties and the polarization of ourselves as the savior in contrast to the "evil empire" of anyone else who dared to disagree.

It is exactly at those times of ego-delirium that nations render themselves deaf, dumb, and blind to conscience-less sociopaths who seduce them into policies and practices that are lethal for themselves and the rest of the world. Lack of reflection by definition produces human beings devoid of discernment.

One enormous problem I have with Lobaczewski's elucidation of his theory is his use of "normal" to describe people who are not sociopaths. I wish he had used a different term since "normal" is so amorphous and laden with the naïve assumption that there is such a thing as a human being who is not dysfunctional in at least one aspect of his/her life. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that so-called "normal" individuals cannot comprehend the mind or behavior of the sociopath and are thus especially vulnerable to being harmed by them-hence the principal reason for writing a book on Ponerology, namely, to educate non-sociopaths about the pathology. The author uses the term "spellbinders" to describe psychological snake charmers who appear to be saviors, enlightened thinkers/politicians, even activists who present themselves as possessing insights based on research uniquely carried out by themselves or information gained through extraordinary channels to which no one else has access. This could also apply to cult leaders like Warren Jeffs and Jim Jones.

Yet, the author warns the reader that our own unconscious processes can cause us to block out the "red flags" that may arise in dealing with sociopaths. "Unconscious psychological processes outstrip conscious reasoning, both in time and in scope, which makes many psychological phenomena possible." (152) Thus the denial that prohibits some individuals from seeing the darkest truths of what a sociopath is trying to promote, i.e., "Our government wouldn't harm us; our government has our best interests at heart; no president could get away with that; the rule of law is still at work in America; fascism can't happen here; the U.S. government couldn't possibly have orchestrated the 9/11 attacks; if 9/11 were orchestrated by the U.S. government, too many people would have been involved for it to remain a secret", and on and on ad infinitum.

Lobaczewski asserts that every society should teach its members proper thinking skills and how to detect the red flags of sociopathy. Teaching critical thinking skills in the educational process is one step in that direction, but in America's No Child Left Behind gargantuan dumbing down project, even this first step is overwhelmingly absent.

The author states that "an ever-strengthening network of psychopathic and related individuals gradually starts to dominate, overshadowing the others." (192) This situation rapidly devolves into a pathocracy or a system wherein a small pathological minority takes control over a society of normal people. (193) The book's editor, Laura Knight-Jadczyk, in her footnotes does not hesitate to name Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld, under the tutelage of Leo Strauss, as principal players in America's twenty-first century pathocracy. Tragically, according to the author, "Pathocracy progressively paralyzes everything [and]...progressively intrudes everywhere and dulls everything."(195)

If this all sounds very grim, and it is, Lobaczewski encourages us by emphasizing that, "If the ponerogenic activity of pathological factors-deviant individuals and their activities-is subjectged to conscious controls of a scientific, individual, and societal nature, we can counteract evil as effectively as by means of persistent calls to respect moral values." (180) In other words, the author insists, crusading for moral values alone, can neither prevent nor expose ponerogenic activity. In fact, he asserts, it can exacerbate such activity by distracting attention from the most ghastly forms of evil to that which is not evil at all or presents with a more complex and less blatant quality. We have only to witness the ideology and rhetoric of the religious right in this country to observe a stellar example of the latter. Professing to be a "culture of life" it is implacably obsessed with death, apocalyptic violence, hell fire and brimstone. It serves no purpose, essentially, in the current milieu but to foster and perpetuate pathocracy.

Political Ponerology is an invaluable work that every human being striving to become conscious, should read, not only for its expose of the pathology of the individuals currently in control of the United States government, but also the light it may shed on individuals closer to home, some of whom may be friends, fellow-activists, business or civic leaders. The book's purpose is not to incite paranoia, but to cultivate discernment and buttress our trust of our innate intuition in order to navigate the daunting manifestations of evil that surround us in the twenty-first century.

http://www.carolynbaker.net

Carolyn Baker, Ph.D. is author of COMING OUT FROM FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANITY: An Autobiography Affirming Sensuality, Social Justice, and The Sacred. She is also author of U.S. HISTORY UNCENSORED: What Your High School Textbook Didn't Tell You. Both books are available at her website: www.carolynbaker.net.

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15 comments

A writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Mark SashineA writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest...

to see more of bio, click on member name

with my 'East European' lack of succinity:)

I want to summarise what is very well known to many unfortunate East Europeans but is somehow 'news' to the all-too- good Americans: those people described are known as ones overcome by an SOB syndrome. It is a very well-known disease and the experienced East-European like me can recognize such person by a)eyes, b)body language and c) writing. Writing usually is the best sign, that is why many of the SOBs never write anything themselves. They know.

My father, even less sophisticated East European usually said about these people that a good stick helps in this case and nothing else. I tend to agree but it seems to be so many of them lately:) And we do need to protect trees. They provide sticks.

by Mark Sashine (51 articles, 19 quicklinks, 244 diaries, 3454 comments) on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 8:04:10 PM

The author lives in Eugene, OR. Interests include 'Group Psychotherapy' and 'Psychodrama'. She is also an RN. One 'Favorite Quote': 'Insanity is the exception in individuals. In groups, parties, peoples and times it is the rule.' ......Friedrich Nietzsche
Katrin R.The author lives in Eugene, OR. Interests include 'Group Psychotherapy' and 'Psychodrama'. She is also an RN. One 'Favorite Quote': 'Insanity is the exception in individuals. In groups, parties, peoples and times it is the rule.' ......Friedrich Nietzsche

handwriting

panurg,

Could you say more about those characteristics you mention? The handwriting, etc. I really am interested. Katrin

by Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 514 comments) on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 11:40:32 PM

No, not handwriting but the style of writing

The best example is, of course ' Mein Kampf', which when it came out was considered by many prominent German literati as an 'insult to the German language'. There were numerous studies of that gem at that time (not anymore because the level of German linguistics science is much lower now than it was in the 20s- ealy 30s XX0th Century). Everyone who knows Russian language, for instance, enough to compare the Stalin's writings with, say, Lenin's will understand in a blink of an eye that Stalin was a deeply troubled SOB. His 'writings' were 99% declarations and 1% necessary quotes. I tried several times to 'have a pleasure' to read some of the writings by Mrs Ann Colteur, although to understand her SOBism you do not need that. But her 'writings' ( if those are hers) reveal a total lack of any personality, which is special form of SOBism, Russians call 'Raspluevshina' named after the notorious literary character Raspluev. Ann is a match made in heaven for Ivan Raspluev, but unfortunately, we cannot marry them.

Comparison is the key. We never compare. No one made a comparison, say stylistically of the GW speech (any of those) and one of Lincoln's for instance.

Now, handwriting can reveal a lot but here, in the US most of the people have no handwriting because they wrote by pencils and that kills it. Also, we do not have many experts in that area anymore.

by Mark Sashine (51 articles, 19 quicklinks, 244 diaries, 3454 comments) on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 7:16:22 AM

Sandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a weekly publication in Canoga Park, California. In conjunction with the Chronicle, she broadcast a tri-weekly, 10-minute newscast for KGOE AM. Following the closure of the Chronicle, Sand became the editor of the Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier newspapers...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Sandy SandSandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a weekly publication in Canoga Park, California. In conjunction with the Chronicle, she broadcast a tri-weekly, 10-minute newscast for KGOE AM. Following the closure of the Chronicle, Sand became the editor of the Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier newspapers...

to see more of bio, click on member name

We Hope It Doesn't, But It Can Happen Here

I've always been one to think that anyone of those "it could happen heres" could happen here.

Maybe it was the one thing that was permanently etched in my brain from reading a lot of World War II history. Even while people were being hauled off to concentration camps the Jews of Germany kept saying: It won't happen to me; I'm a German, not a Jew, and they kept saying it all the way to the ovens.

I saw it coming with George-The-Oneth-Bush and his 1,000 Points of Light and his scarier than hell Orwellian? fascist? communistic? "New World Order." I could never quite figure out what it meant or what I associated it with; I simply knew it made my skin crawl and bode of something that was no damn good. Who knows what would have happened if he had won a second term.

Unfortunately we were only saved for eight years, because here we are now, stuck with George-The-Twoth, who is a million times worse than his father. He's still has a little short of two years to go, so he and his puppetmasters can do more damage.

by Sandy Sand (143 articles, 0 quicklinks, 196 diaries, 1383 comments) on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 10:49:49 PM

Thank you for the article

I used to be 'normal', and I no longer am....but this definately has not turned me into a sociopath. It's just, that I do not need to read the book, becasue I already had the experience. Not intellectually, but literally. Everything you say
I know is true. Thanks, Katrin

by Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 514 comments) on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 11:44:54 PM

As an amateur writer, mother, wife and legal secretary for the past 25 years, my passion for the courage of clergy sex abuse victims, their families and mandated reporters, who made a choice to protect children, before their own career security and ego, has evolved over the past 5 years.

My husband, Michael, is a former Catholic high school teacher and coach, who was forced to make a career change without due process of the law. He will soon complete his Masters Degree in Special E...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Debby BodkinAs an amateur writer, mother, wife and legal secretary for the past 25 years, my passion for the courage of clergy sex abuse victims, their families and mandated reporters, who made a choice to protect children, before their own career security and ego, has evolved over the past 5 years.

My husband, Michael, is a former Catholic high school teacher and coach, who was forced to make a career change without due process of the law. He will soon complete his Masters Degree in Special E...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Evil & Political Evils That Destroy

Thank you for the insight in "The Science of Evil and its Uses for Political Purposes." As an advocate for clery sex abuse survivors and their families, it is the combination of Evil and Politics that aided the fueling of the sex abuse crisis that erupted in 2002. Despite public relations strategies launched by deep pocketed bank accounts, nothing is more evil than watching a person in power and authority abuse repeatedly, guaranteed freedoms of religion.

As defined, the definition of EVIL: morally reprehensible, sinful, wicked and arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct, fits the description of sexual predators employed and supervised by religious institutions, in addition to the attorneys and religious leaders who looked the other way, played the ostrich, each time a precious child or family member reported sexual misconduct.

Politically-motivated decisions are self-serving and destructive to the common good in our society. Yet, it is those in political positions that refuse to accept accountability and the fact they are NOT above the law.

Courage, public outcry and passion to protect children in the future is now in the hands of clergy sex abuse victims and their families. Why? Because political purposes have taken priority in the U.S. before protecting God's most precious gift.

Will the political evils eventually get it? The jury is still out.

by Debby Bodkin (43 articles, 0 quicklinks, 17 diaries, 47 comments) on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 1:42:44 AM

Carolyn Baker, Ph.D. is author of COMING OUT FROM FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANITY: An Autobiography Affirming Sensuality, Social Justice, and The Sacred. She is also author of U.S. HISTORY UNCENSORED: What Your High School Textbook Didn't Tell You. Both books are available at her website: www.carolynbaker.net.
Carolyn BakerCarolyn Baker, Ph.D. is author of COMING OUT FROM FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANITY: An Autobiography Affirming Sensuality, Social Justice, and The Sacred. She is also author of U.S. HISTORY UNCENSORED: What Your High School Textbook Didn't Tell You. Both books are available at her website: www.carolynbaker.net.

Thank You

Thank you so much for your comments on clergy sexual abuse--just one manifestation of evil in our world and one which I feel especially compassionate about.

by Carolyn Baker (42 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 33 comments) on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 9:04:02 AM

A one-eyed man in a world of the blind is king, but a rational man in a world of the irrational is a fool.
rabblerowzerA one-eyed man in a world of the blind is king, but a rational man in a world of the irrational is a fool.

Political Ponerology

Based on my own life experiences, I have to disagree with Lobaczewski's assertion "that Sociopaths constitute only about 6% of the population of any given group."

Sociopathic tendencies to varying degrees exist in everyone, and denial of that fact makes us easy prey for sociopath leaders cunning and evil enough to exploit that fact. Socipathic leaders have always attracted many fanatical followers. Leaders like Hitler, Stalin, Reagan and Bush have corrupted entire nations with their evil influence by exploiting our Sociopathic tendencies. Appealing to the Mob Mentality, they use racism, intolerance, selfishness, greed, fear and hate-mongering to win the hearts and minds of at least half the population. It's as easy and predictable as ABC, and works damn near every time.

by rabblerowzer (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 227 comments) on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 5:27:42 AM

My greatest passion is understanding what is really going on in the world today and helping others understand...if they want to. That last part is critical. I have no interest in beating anyone over the head with what I think is correct. It is up to each of us to determine what is correct.

I hope to inspire those who yearn for truth to do the hard work of finding it.
eyesopenMy greatest passion is understanding what is really going on in the world today and helping others understand...if they want to. That last part is critical. I have no interest in beating anyone over the head with what I think is correct. It is up to each of us to determine what is correct.

I hope to inspire those who yearn for truth to do the hard work of finding it.

How many sociopaths?

You make a good point that sociopathic characteristics exist in virtually all of us, but not sure why that would lead you to disagree with Lobaczewski. The whole point of his book is to describe the process by which entire nations come to accept pathocratic rule.

Pathocratic leaders are NEVER successful in winning the minds of everyone within a nation, however. You are exactly right when you say that the way the bulk of a nation is corrupted under the influence of sociopathic rules is predictable, though. That is why Lobaczewski could write a book on the SCIENCE of evil. The question is not one of predictability but whether we understand the science well enough to make accurate predictions and truly understand what is going on.

by eyesopen (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 13 comments) on Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 11:09:36 AM

Surfing for truth.
Wave RiderSurfing for truth.

Conscience counts

The book, borne from the scientific process and perilous environments under which Lobaczewski and his colleagues strove to conduct and catalog their research, reveals the psychology behind the minority in power and how it is used to dominate the majority of society. All of us would do well to read this book and learn to identify and counter those without conscience.

An excellent summary to a well-edited presentation of Mr. Lobaczewski's work.

by Wave Rider (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 3:09:44 PM

Editor of Signs of the Times news web site.
Joe QuinnEditor of Signs of the Times news web site.

Political Ponerology

It is hard to fully convey just how important Andrew Lobaczewski's book Political Ponerology really is. It furnishes the reader with a complete understanding of the true nature of psychopathy and in doing so answers the most troubling question of perhaps all ages: "why does war happen?". This is a book grounded in hard science that possesses the potential to free humanity from the suffering created by centuries of open-ended and needless war. While its premise may shock you, it will also leave you in no doubt about the real reason that we as a species seem to be perched on the edge of an abyss that threatens the future of all: Essential psychopathy and the deviant minds that have risen to positions of almost absolute power.

by Joe Quinn (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments) on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 6:27:42 PM

I'm a farmer, father, and a seeker of truth. For fun i love to read, ocean sports and related activities, smoking cigars and listening to music.
justiceI'm a farmer, father, and a seeker of truth. For fun i love to read, ocean sports and related activities, smoking cigars and listening to music.

Political Ponerology

Great article on a very important book! Americans need to wake up fast, we are being ruled by psychopaths and other deviants as described Mr. Lobacewski. It's hard to imagine that there are people born without a conscience and they rise to the top of the political and corporate pyramid.

by justice (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 8:34:00 PM

Interests: Politics, science, psychology, history.
new newInterests: Politics, science, psychology, history.

Psychopaths in Power

Andrew Lobaczewski has given us an invaluable and timely explanation of the rise of pathological minorities into positions of power. We get an unprecidented insight into the reasons behind the pathological growth and spread of the inhuman actions of past and present, that have been inflicted by pyschopaths in power.
His study also provides details of the more subtle ways in which the ponerization process can affect the normal person's psychological processes.
I think the information in this book really does have the potential to profoundly change the direction in which the human race is heading.

by new new (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 8:49:12 PM

As a young man I realized power corrupts, and as I age I try to show the truth and the depth of this statement to as many who are willing to see it.
Brent KopenhaverAs a young man I realized power corrupts, and as I age I try to show the truth and the depth of this statement to as many who are willing to see it.

Great Book, Read it and Know.

Ponerology is the much needed science for today's world. It gives us the first steps towards changing our world for the betterment of all.

You'll learn so much from this text I can't even begin to describe it in a short comment, all i can say is read it and understand.

by Brent Kopenhaver (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments) on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 9:04:21 AM

Swiftness, timing and discernment will save the day.
Grazing GazelleSwiftness, timing and discernment will save the day.

Psychopathy

Before I came across this information I had no idea what a psychopath was, other than the Hollywood-ized version we've been presented with. The notion of the psycho killer next door who stuffs his victims body parts in the freezer is really only the tip of the iceberg and what lies beneath the water's surface is what we really need to know and be most concerned about. The SUCCESSFUL psychopath is far more sophisticated than 99% of the population realizes and if it weren't for books like this, we wouldn't have a prayer. It's both breathtaking and sickening when you come to the realization how much influence this approx. 6% of the population has over the world's sociological structures. It's like this itch that's bothered you all your life regarding how the world works that until you find information like this, it can finally be scratched, so to speak.

by Grazing Gazelle (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Monday, February 12, 2007 at 4:47:10 PM