ponerology
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌpɒnəˈrɒlədʒi/
- Specialized
- Through ponerology, researchers analyze the psychological origins of malevolent actions.
Examples
-
The book and the field of Ponerology explain the bigger sociological changes, psychology, and how it leads to our current and earlier problems with psychopaths in power and what happens when they get there.
Blog text (2) -
- Andrew M. Lobaczewski, Political Ponerology: A science on the nature of evil adjusted for political purposes.
Blog text (2) -
A new discipline thus arose: Ponerology.
Blog text (2) -
Once again, you most likely have misunderstood what the article really says, and by that, the whole point of the study Ponerology.
Blog text (2) -
I am mentioning this example as it demonstrates pretty clearly the characteristics that articles on ponerology mention.
Blog text (4) -
The field of ponerology seeks to understand how evil can manifest in human behavior.
-
Many believe that ponerology is essential for comprehending the dynamics of power and corruption.
How Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
ponerology = ponero + logy
Although '-logy' clearly means 'study of', the root 'ponero-' is a specialized classical form meaning 'evil' that is not transparent to an average English learner.
Etymology
Ponerology comes from the Greek root poner- meaning 'evil' and the ending -logy meaning 'study', the same -logy you see in psychology and biology. So it literally means 'the study of evil', which is why the word names the field that looks at how evil develops in people and societies.