A Swipe at the Gordian Knot of Evil

Authors

  • Richards E. Webb and Philip Rosenbam

Keywords:

Evil, existential-relational positions, serial killer, Bollas, Wuornos

Abstract

To study evil’s complexity we register the words of Ted Bundy and the reflections of another serial killer, Ian Brady. We look at evil from various theoretical perspectives, but especially review the structure of evil as described by Christopher Bollas. We propose that a more interpersonal and explicitly developmental perspective is useful in understanding our vulnerability to doing evil. Towards that end we discuss the paranoid-schizoid existential-relational position and how being stuck in it constrains our appreciation of “otherness.” To conclude the paper, we consider the case of the serial killer, Lee Wuornos.

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Published

2022-12-14

How to Cite

Philip Rosenbam, R. E. W. and. (2022). A Swipe at the Gordian Knot of Evil. Free Associations, 35(87). Retrieved from https://freeassociations.org.uk/FA_New/OJS/index.php/fa/article/view/435

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 87 (2022)

Section

Articles

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