How not to raise a monster: an honest dialogue between experts on the nature of evil

Vera Nikishina, Director of the Institute of Clinical Psychology and Social Work at Pirogov University, and Vasily Beinarovich, psychiatrist and host of the true-crime podcast "Affairs", known under the pseudonym "Faust of the XXI century", met at Pirogov University to discuss the acute topic: "How not to raise a serial killer?" We were looking for an answer to a provocative question in the dialogue: where is the line beyond which a child turns into a criminal?

The speakers agreed that the foundation of personality is laid in early childhood, when patterns of behavior are formed. If the child has learned during this period that violence is the norm, especially if he sees that inflicting pain gives the parent pleasure, this model is consolidated. Even killing a fly or a spider, combined with positive emotions, can become a dangerous example for a small child.

Vasily Beinarovich emphasized that not everyone who tears off the paws of flies in childhood will become murderers. But if the child does this not out of curiosity, but for pleasure, then at this moment a future addiction begins to form.

The lecture also touched upon modern realities: can video games with aggressive content affect the psyche of a teenager?

"Our brains evolved in the same reality. But today, a teenager spends 10-12 hours in a different one — a bright, dynamic, aggressive one. If a game action simulating murder is anchored by the emotion of pleasure, will the child transfer this pattern to real life? In my opinion, it is quite,"Vera Nikishina answered this question.

The meeting allowed us to look into the abyss of the human psyche through the eyes of a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist. You will be able to immerse yourself in this and other medical specialties at the Pirogov Fest on March 21! Register on the pirogovfest.rf website.

Photos from the event are in the album.

Back