Dr. Russ Webster gave the lecture at the most recent Soup and Sandwich Seminar event at the Arboretum. The topic was “The Psychology of Evil”. Dr. Webster is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Psychological Science Department at Gustavus. His research includes such topics as prejudice and discrimination, “magical thinking” (superstition, fantasy and other emotional coping strategies), and the question of “pure good and evil.” So here’s the question: do you believe that pure good and pure evil exist, or can good and evil acts always be explained by background, environment, and circumstances? What do you think?