Evil The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side

by Shaw, Julia

• ISBN13: 9781419735196
• ISBN10: 1419735195
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2020-02-11
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Summary

We are fascinated by evil—but what does science say about our darkest impulses?

Why are we drawn to stories of serial killers, sadists, and sociopaths? What makes someone commit an act of cruelty or violence? And can evil truly be defined—or is it just a matter of perspective? In this provocative and deeply researched book, psychologist and criminologist Julia Shaw explores the science behind humanity’s most disturbing behaviors.

Blending neuroscience, psychology, and cultural analysis, Shaw examines everything from murder fantasies and workplace misbehavior to terrorism and artificial intelligence. She challenges readers to rethink what it means to be “bad,” showing how empathy, context, and biology shape our understanding of morality.

With gripping case studies, pop culture references, and cutting-edge research, Evil is a compelling journey into the minds of those we fear—and a call to confront our own assumptions about right and wrong.

Author Biography

Dr. Julia Shaw is a psychological scientist at University College London. She is the founder of the Bisexual Research Group, and in 2017 Shaw co-founded the memory science and artificial intelligence start-up Spot, which helps employees report workplace harassment and discrimination. She is the author of The Memory Illusion, which was published in 20 languages, and Evil, a bestseller in Canada and Germany. Besides her research, she is a regular keynote speaker on the topics of memory hacking, tackling workplace harassment, and artificial intelligence, and is the cohost of the BBC podcast Bad People. She lives in London.