Posted by JP on October 26, 2001 at 09:05:00:
In Reply to: the inner beast posted by hamster on October 25, 2001 at 19:00:35:
In my observations certain types seem much more prone to an interest in the "inner demon" you mention than others. 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8 I think are more likely to think about revenge, for instance (though 5 and 6 typically just think about it, while 3 and 8 are more likely to act than the others).
Fascination with death and pain are normal to some degree (though obviously they can be pathological if taken to extremes, as can any interest or behavior). We are all mortal; we are all going to die; curiosity surrounding death is normal. A lot of the "guilt" or other negative feelings that arise when we indulge these interests are a direct result of the social taboos that surround death - sex is a good analog.
And, as with sex, I think that these concepts and feelings typically become much more evident at a certain age or level of development. When we are young (pre-adolescent) such feelings and ideas are largely outside of our interest, although we may be intellectually aware of them. But as we become sexualized and more complex emotionally/mentally/biochemically/socially, we begin to explore sex, death, and all these areas that society tended to shield us from as children. And, since our parents (and that big parent, society) want to "protect" us from the "evil" in the world, they surround sex and drugs and rock & roll with all of these stigmas and laws, many of which have been embedded within us below our conscious radar. Things that shock or challenge our feelings and preconceptions become strangely attractive, and seem more honest than the sugar-coated crap we see around us.
As I've aged I've realized also that a lot of the social constructs/taboos I once saw as arbitrary serve purposes beyond shielding (or misleading or controlling) younger people.
My own "inner beast" has evolved a lot over the years, and now is mostly engaged in working to make me feel like I'm a failure. It was more fun when I was 16-22 and could blame all the things I thought were wrong on external systems or people.