Heart of Darkness attempts to describe the economics, politics, psychology, and even
metaphysics of evil. But despite the pervasiveness of evil as a theme, the moral heart of the
novel is cloaked in ambiguity. Using a variety of behavioural models, social psychologists like
Phil Zimbardo have also attempted to define and explain evil. Apply Zimbardo’s interpretation
of the psychology of evil in the Abu Ghraib incident to Kurtz’s descent into evil in Heart of
Darkness.
This is a joint English/Psychology assignment so this essay will be assessed twice: once for its
use of psychology in a literary critique, and once for its demonstration of psychological concepts in a
literary context.
I am asked to use three sources:
the short story (Heart of Darkness) – which can be seen through this link :
http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ConDark.html
Our text book – reference:
Gerrig, R.J., Zimbardo, P.G., Desmarais, S., & Ivanco, T., (2009). Psychology and life.
Pearson Education Canada: Ontario, Toronto.
and the following websites movie clip:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/philip_zimbardo_on_the_psychology_of_evil.html
The goal of this assignment, is to consider a literary text in light of some principles of social psychology and to
blur the institutional border between literature and psychology.
