are people born evil or do they become evil along the way?

Answer 1

All are born innocent, it is their environment and experience that molds their form...be it good or evil.

Answer 2

I have seen both - a person born soon recognized as an evil doer usually highly selfish and very manipulative - without good conscience. Thrice in my life I have seen the development of 'The Bad Seed' (movie title if you are interested) personality - that which is cold, calculating and overtly dangerous.

I have seen also, particularily those messing around with drugs, turn to evil too. That they changed to evil and sometimes violence - was their own doing. That they took a friendship and devored it by their own actions and would have brought me or others harm belies the kids I knew in school who were good kids.

To be honest, I think everyone is capable of evil - given the right circumstances. That a rationale for the evil is made justifiable is what should worry you in this question.

I leave you with this thought, years ago I worked in company that polygraphed every employee as a required condition of employment. Here is what we know, across this country information, next time you go into a room with 100 people - only 2 or 3 are honest.

Time to wake up and smell the roses - and the roses are black and evil smelling. Better start looking over your shoulder more often.

Answer 3

I hate 2 say but some people are just born into f#%ked up situations that there evil from the jump. However some people do become cold along the journey of life so the answer is yes to both.

Answer 4

I do not think that people are born evil just like I do not think that people are born prejudiced but they become that way through outside stimuli and negative messages they are sent through their most formative years. Abuse can lead to acting out in negative sometimes horrific ways but in the end all things being equal we are all accountable for our actions, good bad or indifferent. Even those with the worst of childhoods can overcome their upbringing.

Answer 5

If you like John Locke, 17 centary philospher then you are born as a blank slat. Or a room waiting to be furnished. Therefore scoiety is the thing that currupts us to become "Evil" If your a developmental psychologist, you go through a series or moral stages in which you learn different tecniques to resolve problems.

Answer 6

People become evil along the way, eother the way their upbringing or drugs theyve done, stealing, killing etc. Evil can be the way you become and act towards certain situations. Children have good hearts when they become older they go in the wrong direction and become evil..

Answer 7

God said we were all born in sin. I am a Christian and believe that. But I also believe it is more complex than that and we use this statement to excuse bad behavior sometimes. We have been blessed with the gift of choice and have the ability to control our impulses. I believe environment and culture play a large role in how we develop; moral, immoral and amoral. Your question has inspired probably more books than I could read in a lifetime. Short answer, if one has a propensity to be evil, it has been nurtured (my belief).

Answer 8

Wow, Good q.!I beleave most poeple are born that way,But there area few situtions that after years of abuse the person will be very mean and abusive,But EVIL is just that,EVIL!And to be that way,You are born that way,But as I was Saying,You can be taught evil,But wether you choose to go down that road is Competly up to you!Hollywood

Answer 9

...i was just thinking about this yesterday.
...no one is born evil. A man becomes evil along the way. Men make evil men. Men choose to be evil.

And on the other side of the fence, we are not born righteous. Men choose and become righteous. Men make righteous men...

Answer 10

I believe absolutely that people become that way by how they are raised.
There are some tempermental traits that are inherited that might make it easier for people to "go bad" but mostly it is the nurture and not the nature.
Aggression is one such trait. Some people are born more intense and some more laid back. More intense people, raised where there is no tolerance for physical violence can overcome tendency to be aggressive. (sorry if i went off topic, just one example)

Answer 11

here we go again with the nature versus nurture argument. There are very good arguments for both sides of the fence. Frankly, I think it is alittle of both....we've all seen the stories of kids raised in loving homes that become serial killers. And there are a huge number raised in severe adversity and abuse that become great humanitarians. In other words, no one knows for sure, and it changes too, the definition of what is evil is totally subjective.