Psychologist Delroy Paulhus studies the nature of evil. Through careful experimentation designed to separate the psychopaths and others among us who have objectively quantifiable evil personality traits, he studies the actions and reactions of normal and abnormal folks. Tests include apparently dumping innocent bugs into a coffee grinder (the bugs remain unharmed, but participants don't know that), and computer "games" designed to inflict unpleasant suffering on other participants.

After years of intensive study, Paulhus has uncovered an understanding of evil remarkably close to the biblical picture of humans. His work demonstrates that we are complex moral beings, rather than the common assumptions that we make—good or evil, bad or nice. "We have a tendency to use the halo or devil framing of individuals we meet - we want to simplify our world into good or bad people," he says, but he notes that reality is different.

Possible Preaching Angle:

We all have the capacity for evil, the capacity for good. The image of God in us may sometimes be blurred beyond recognition, but it remains, no matter how evil we may become

Source:

David Robson, “Psychology: the man who studies everyday evil,” BBC (1-30-15)