Dark Side of Relationships

History

Historical examinations of the dark side concept reveals diverse multidisciplinary roots. The development of the concept of seven deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride) and their comparative virtues (e.g., chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility) illustrate a historical interest. The prospect that the seven deadly or cardinal sins might be part of human nature inspired artistic, philosophical, and religious inquiry into this nature. As inquiry evolved into the study of relationships, the prospect that evil and sin may be integral to understanding relationships became apparent as well. Thus, as academic disciplines evolved, so did the interest in the dark side. The field of communication was born out of the debate between Plato and Aristotle, in which Plato feared the relegation of rhetoric, often viewed as nothing more than an art, to the status of a science because of the ability of persuasion and manipulation to distort and distract people away from scientific truth. Plato's student, Aristotle, argued instead that the only way to avoid such victimization by the arts of rhetoric was through its systematic study—understanding manipulation and exploitation can help prevent it. In more contemporary times, the field of psychology continues to devote an entire domain of inquiry into abnormal psychology. Sociology continues to demonstrate an interest in conflict, deviance, and alienation as significant themes of the discipline. Communication criticizes the misuse of communication and attempts to remedy various forms of relational incompetence. Most disciplines have some facet that is significantly devoted to the study of dysfunction, including the study of families, organizations, politics, history, and health. Despite these deep disciplinary roots, the modern study of the dark side has largely been fragmented and lacks thematic coherence.

The Evolution of Terminology

In popular consciousness the phrase the dark side is often associated with its extensive use in the Star Wars movies beginning in 1977, and at least one online dictionary actually attributes its etymology to this source. Although clearly popularized by the movie, the phrase predates its usage in this epic. In the social sciences, numerous terms and phrases have been applied to the study of dysfunctional relationships, including the dark side of families, courtship, interpersonal communication, close relationships, and organizational behavior. Other cognate phrases include relating difficulty, inappropriate relationships, aversive interpersonal behavior, behaving badly, counterproductive work behavior, problematic relationships in the workplace, troublesome relationships, psychological problems, emotional and behavioral problems, the social psychology of good and evil, and the science of good and evil. This network of associations reveals a key aspect to the evolution of this area of study: the need for a metaphor or label for integrating a general interest in the investigation and understanding of the dysfunctional aspects of human interaction and relationships.

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