How do evil people affect us psychologically?

These are the psychological effects of dealing with evil people.

When dealing with people with a clear tendency to deliberately harm others, emphasis is often placed on the causes and motivations behind their behavior. However, the consequences of their actions for others are no less important; after all, these people are the victims.

In this article we will take a look at the main psychological effects of dealing with evil people, with an emphasis on mental health.

What are the characteristics of mean people?

Answering the question of what exactly it is to be an evil person is a task so complex that it goes beyond psychology as a science; in the end, it is a rather philosophical question. Specifically, one approached from the philosophy of ethics.

And in fact, in the behavioral sciences there is no clear consensus about what is evil or what are the behaviors of evil people (which is not surprising, because defining these terms has political implications).

That is why in this article we are going to refer to evil people in general terms and understanding that we are talking about those who present personality traits of the dark triad ("dark triad"), a set of psychological predispositions associated with antisocial behavior. Antisocial behavior is that which is carried out without wanting to preserve the alliances and the good health of the social fabric in which one lives, but which is aimed solely at satisfying one's own desires from an individualistic value system.

The dark triad is so called because it includes three personality traits: narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism.

Narcissism

Narcissism is characterized by egocentrism, feelings of grandeur, pride and the need to impose one's authority over others. over others.

Psychopathy

Psychopathy includes impulsivity, lack of empathy and capacity for regret, selfishness, lack of sensitivity towards others and disregard for rules and laws.

Machiavellianism

Machiavellianism has to do with the tendency to manipulate others and opportunism focused on satisfying one's own needs and desires. focused on satisfying one's own needs and desires.

In what ways do evil people influence us psychologically?

As we have seen, the traits of the dark triad, although they overlap with each other in some aspects, delineate a type of behavior with great capacity to harm others. Here we will see what psychological effects people leave behind when dealing with others.

1. Trauma

Trauma is common especially in cases where abuse is involved, either through physical violence or through other strategies aimed at causing psychological pain. These psychopathological complications are expressed through intrusive and recurrent thoughts, unexpected peaks of anxiety, fear of performing normal day-to-day actions..

2. Damaged self-esteem

Many people who are easy to manipulate others are dedicated to making their victims doubt their capabilities, to the point that they they assume they are good for nothing. This is done mainly through what is known as gaslighting.

3. Social isolation

Many evil people demand exclusive dedication to their partners or to their friendshipsso that their victims become more and more socially isolated and, therefore, in a situation of special vulnerability and feeling of loneliness.

4. Emotional dependence

If the psychological manipulation is fully consolidated, it gives rise to emotional dependence. This occurs when the victim values everything depending on whether it will bring her validation from the person who manipulates her or, on the contrary, whether it gives her reason to get angry or even break off the relationship. the relationship.

5. Fear

Finally, fear is another of the most common psychological elements in the victims of these types of attacks and manipulations. Evil people know how to exploit well the insecurities and vulnerabilities of others, or sometimes they do not even devote efforts to find them out and opt for threats of physical attacks. The person is afraid of antagonizing the person who is making his or her life impossible, and therefore adopts a more or less submissive attitude..

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At Avance Psychologists you will find a team of mental health professionals that began its trajectory more than 20 years ago and that serves people of all ages. We intervene in the areas of individual, family and couples psychological therapy, as well as sexology, speech therapy, neuropsychology and coaching. We offer face-to-face sessions in our psychology center located in Madrid, and also sessions in the modality of online therapy by video call.