Detecting
Evil
"When
fighting monsters, beware that you yourself do not become a monster, for when
you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."
Friedrich
W. Nietzsche
The
man caught in the camera's lens radiates an undeniable charm. Despite his
tears, his articulate speech suggests intelligence while he struggles to manage
his emotions. Just by looking at him, viewers know that he's the type of person
they’d feel comfortable leaving their precious Paphiopedilum orchid with
when they go on vacation. If he asked them on the street for a donation, they
wouldn't even bother to check which charity he was representing. He exudes
reliability, and reliability is a crucial element in any relationship, whether
it is personal or professional, enduring or short-lived. It forms the basis for
establishing and nurturing strong relationships.
He is
Chris Watts, a Colorado citizen who murdered his pregnant wife and their two
children before pleading on television for assistance in locating them.
"Shanann,
Bella, Celeste... If you’re out there, please come back," he wept, knowing
they were dead.
Watts
later confessed to the murders and was sentenced to multiple life terms in
prison. The case garnered national attention and sparked discussions about the
facade people present to the world versus their true selves.
In a
provocative documentary, Chilean director Lisette Orozco raises fundamental
questions about human nature’s duality and the capacity for evil within us all.
Her film investigates whether morality
results from one's inherent nature or is influenced by external factors, which
are commonly referred to as "nurture."
Adriana
Rivas, the director's aunt, proved that such duality could hide behind the
most unexpected of faces, as she was revealed to have been involved in a brutal
dictatorship in Chile. Apart from being a loving aunt, Rivas worked closely
with Manuel Contreras, the notorious chief of the National Intelligence Police
(DINA), and was also implicated in the disappearance of the secretary-general
of the Chilean Communist Party. This shocking discovery forced the director to
confront the potential for darkness within us all.
The
initial motivation for Orozco’s documentary was to clear her beloved aunt.
Nevertheless, Rivas acknowledged in an interview with Australia's SBS that
she had supported the use of torture for political purposes and defended its
use by arguing that it was necessary to maintain population control.
In light
of her aunt’s statements and after speaking with some of the military regime’s
victims, Orozco concluded that, despite her aunt's initial denials, she must
have seen or possibly even participated in the executions.
In 2017, the
documentary was awarded the prestigious Peace Prize by the Panorama Berlin
Festival. The film raised questions of whether Rivas was inherently predisposed
to cruelty or whether she was both the adored aunt and a
murderer. One can only speculate about the director’s anxieties as she
contemplated the possibility of inheriting her aunt's molecular blueprint.
Cesare
Lombroso, a 19th-century Italian criminologist, proposed a now-debunked theory
of a genetic inclination toward criminal behavior within certain biological categories.
In his work "The Criminal Man" (L'Uomo delinquent, circa 1876),
Lombroso suggested that specific physical characteristics such as facial
asymmetry or a strong jawline could be used to identify individuals who were
believed to be "born criminals." His theory was heavily criticized
for its lack of scientific evidence and its potential to perpetuate harmful
stereotypes. Despite its eventual rejection by the scientific community,
Lombroso's work laid the foundation for modern criminology and forensic
psychology.
In the
annals of history, one cannot overlook the figure of Adolf Hitler, whose reign
was marked by his profoundly flawed and distorted views on race and physical
appearance with far-reaching consequences for the world. The German ruler
denigrated Slavs, Gypsies, Jews, and people with disabilities and believed that
interracial marriages jeopardized the Aryan race's purity.
A modern-day
illustration that highlights the effect of physical appearance on our judgments
is the case of people with albinism, who face social exclusion in some African
countries based on their fair complexion and hair color.
In
Western societies, we view attractiveness as a signal of dependability, and
beauty is usually equated with worth and success. People tend to pay more
attention to an ugly neighbor than to a beautiful stranger. However, the famous
tale of Beauty and the Beast seldom reflects the truth in real life. The
classic story explores the dichotomy between our society's tendency to glorify
grace and condemn physical ugliness. This unfortunate phenomenon reflects the post-Lombroso
biases and prejudices that still exist within our culture. It is frustrating to
witness how we often prioritize external appearances over inner qualities and
judge individuals based solely on their physical attributes. This concept
challenges us to broaden our perspective and adopt a more comprehensive
approach to assessing people.
Ted
Bundy, a notorious serial killer, had a natural charm and charisma that fooled
his victims into thinking he meant them no harm. The ability to project a
seemingly pleasant and harmless demeanor was a critical factor in his criminal
activities. Those who knew him well portrayed him as a personable and amusing
individual who caught the eye with his attractive appearance. In addition to
his political campaign involvement, he also pursued a law degree, which enhanced
his overall appeal. He attracted female groupies who promised their undying
devotion even after his conviction, even though he was a psychopath.
In 1971,
psychology professor Philip G. Zimbardo conducted the world-famous Stanford
Prison experiment, during which students were randomly assigned to the roles of
convicts or guards. The experiment was originally scheduled to last
for two weeks. However, it was abruptly terminated on the sixth day due to
the harsh and demeaning behavior exhibited by the guards towards the
participants, who were actually their peers. Dr. Zimbardo's groundbreaking
study shed light on the dark potential within ordinary individuals when placed
in specific situations.
However,
let's revisit the topic of Chris Watts. Fortunately, the sharp observations of
the police and other experts involved in the case enabled them to look past his
seemingly pleasant demeanor. These experts explored the mindset of an
individual who placed his desires above everything else. The intensity of his
longing for his beloved wife and children was immeasurable. His despair was
all-consuming. But real tears only welled up in his eyes as he confronted
the grim truth of spending the rest of his life in prison. His deception had
been exposed, leaving him with no way to avoid the repercussions.
There is
no definitive answer to whether we are fundamentally evil or stray because of
our environment. The findings neither support nor disprove the idea of
congenital depravity. And as for people like Watts and Bundy, perhaps, paying
heed to Nietzsche’s words, they gaze too intently into the abyss. Perhaps they
have fought their inner demons for too long. Or maybe they have always been the
abyss and the monster, and only they know it.
JB Polk
Polish
by birth, a citizen of the world by choice. First story short-listed for the
Irish Independent/Hennessy Awards, Ireland, 1996. Since she went
back to writing in 2020, more than 100 of her stories, flash fiction and
non-fiction, have been accepted for publication. She has recently won 1st prize
in the International Human Rights Arts Movement literary contest.