The Dark Side

The Dark Side. More often then not, this term is in reference to the 'evil' characters from the great series known as 'Star Wars'. In more general terms, it has become more and more well known as a simple term for evil, or anything that could be viewed as abnormal. Hatred, anger, sorrow, loneliness, regret, fear, shallow thoughts, mean actions, being devoid of feeling- these are all traits commonly associated with those traveling along the 'dark side'. You all instantly think of someone when you hear the phrase, whether they are real or imaginary... but what none of you may think about is what it is that might cause such feelings in a person. It is often said that 'nobody wakes up wanting evil', where the word 'evil' could be substituted with any myriad of words. While that may or may not be true, I believe it could be said that most people desire better things in life then to be 'evil'.

So what then, drive people to be what they are, be it 'good' or 'evil'? It can't be their own natural tendencies and desires, because very few people can be said to 'desire' to be 'evil'. It must then be something that is external to the individual. The first thing to come to mind is their environment, that is to say, their surroundings, the various inputs they are susceptible to on a daily basis. If all they ever hear is love, peace, joy, sharing, caring, and other such feelings and thoughts of 'good', then that is very well what they shall strive to be, as that is the only normal their brain will recognize. But if they are exposed to thoughts of betrayal, hatred, anger, fear, lust,  self loathing, despair, then those are more then likely the thoughts that the brain is likely to latch onto. Ones worst enemy is more oft then not, ones own brain and consciousness. 

But even worse, in my opinion, is the individuals who are bred to think one way, to the exclusion of all else, only to have their world come crashing down upon them when they suddenly realize that there is so much more then what they have previously perceived to be true. For example, a student of the 'light' may think that all that exists is peace and joy and happiness, only to discover rather abruptly one day that their is a plethora of emotions that he has only barely begun to grasp. If the sudden inrush of knowledge doesn't overtake him, he is likely to be all the more curious about these new found emotions and be all the more wiling to embrace is unknowing demise.

But my point in all of this is, simply put, what drives the 'darkness' to be evident in the 'dark sided' people?