Demonic Phenomena

This chapter considers a variety of phenomena by which demons are perceived, focusing upon the more wondrous or miraculous. For Augustine, demons have power only over bodies and appearances, not human understanding and will. This restricts demonic power to the natural, causal limitations of corporeal things, which they only know externally—scientifically, as it were—and not contemplatively in God as the angels do. It also makes it possible for the saints to resist them with virtue, by which demons are made the ‘sport of angels’. This is demonstrated by a review of a variety of demonic phenomena that appear in Augustine’s writings including divination, prodigies, signs, temptation, and possession, which are analysed according to the two basic categories of deception and affliction. The chapter ends with a comparison of angelic and demonic miracles. Occasionally Augustine claims that angelic miracles have greater power than those of demons, but it is more essential in his work to differentiate them not according to their perceived power but by their meaning. The self-love in which they fell is the self-love to which all the works of demons ultimately refer and by which they are identifiable in those works.

The Behavior of Using Masks during the Coronavirus Disease 19 Pandemic in Malang Regency, Indonesia: Application of Theory of Planned Behavior and Social Support

BACKGROUND: The use of masks during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is one of the efforts to prevent its transmission. However, it was found that the behavior of the use of masks in the community is still low. AIM: This study aims to analyze people’s behavior in the use of masks with the theory of planned behavior and social support approach. METHODS: Research using a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted on 90 people in Malang, Indonesia, taken with simple random sampling techniques. Variables measured are behavioral beliefs, evaluation of behavioral outcomes, normative beliefs, motivation to comply, control beliefs, perceived power, attitude, subjective norm, perceived control, intention, family support, peer support, and mask usage behavior. Research instrument is questionnaire. The data were analyzed using a linear regression test. RESULTS: Results showed that the behavior of mask use according to the theory of planned behavior was significantly influenced by perceived power (p < 0.001), normative beliefs (p = 0.019), and intention to perform the behavior (p = 0.041). While in the social support component, peer support obtained a significant effect (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: As an effort to improve the behavior of the use of masks in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to strengthen perceived power, normative beliefs, and intentions accompanied by good peer support so that the community complies with the use of masks for the prevention of transmission.

How norm violators rise and fall in the eyes of others: The role of sanctions

Norm violators demonstrate that they can behave as they wish, which makes them appear powerful. Potentially, this is the beginning of a self-reinforcing loop, in which greater perceived power invites further norm violations. Here we investigate the possibility that sanctions can break this loop by reducing the power that observers attribute to norm violators. Despite an abundance of research on the effects of sanctions as deterrents for norm-violating behavior, little is known about how sanctions may change perceptions of individuals who do (or do not) violate norms. Replicating previous research, we found in two studies (N1 = 203, N2 = 132) that norm violators are perceived as having greater volitional capacity compared to norm abiders. Qualifying previous research, however, we demonstrate that perceptions of volition only translate into attributions of greater power in the absence of sanctions. We discuss implications for social hierarchies and point out avenues for further research on the social dynamics of power.

Narcissism and Subjective Arousal in Response to Sexual Aggression: The Mediating Role of Perceived Power

The present research examined the associations that narcissistic personality features had with subjective arousal in response to sexually aggressive behaviors, as well as whether these associations were mediated by the power that was believed to accompany these behaviors. Participants were 221 community members (115 women, 106 men) who completed a self-report instrument that captured narcissistic admiration (an agentic form of narcissism) and narcissistic rivalry (an antagonistic form of narcissism). In addition, participants were asked to rate how powerful they would expect to feel if they actually engaged in an array of sexually aggressive behaviors (e.g., “Tying up a person during sexual intercourse against her/his will”) as well as how sexually aroused they would be by each behavior. A multilevel mediation analysis revealed that both narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry were positively associated with subjective arousal in response to sexual aggression and that these associations were mediated by the perceived power that was believed to accompany these sexually aggressive behaviors. These results suggest that perceptions of power may play an important role in the connections that narcissistic personality features have with subjective arousal in response to sexually aggressive behavior for both men and women. This discussion will focus on the implications of these results for understanding the connections between narcissism and sexual aggression in both men and women.

Stoicism and Verbal Aggression in Serial Arguments: The Roles of Perceived Power, Perceived Resolvability, and Frequency of Arguments

Impelled by a desire to control, suppress, and deny emotional response, stoic individuals may act out their pent-up emotions on relational partners by provoking conflict and/or engaging in partner-directed violent and aggressive behaviors. However, little is known regarding what factors can push stoics over the edge from remaining quiet or avoiding revealing frustrations to initiating aggressive behavior. This relationship between stoicism and aggression is important to consider in serial arguments, where the repetitive nature of a conflict may become increasingly difficult for stoics to manage internally. Here, we examined the influence of stoicism on verbal aggression in serial arguments between romantic partners. We additionally considered the effects of power, perceived resolvability, and argument frequency on the relationship between stoicism and verbal aggression. Using a survey design with a sample of 281 individuals involved in a romantic relationship, we observed that stoicism is positively associated with verbal aggression in serial arguments. While perceived power and resolvability did not moderate the relationship between stoicism and verbal aggression, argument frequency about a serial argument topic was a significant moderator. The results of this study imply that stoicism plays an important role in explaining aggressive tactics in conflict. A high argument frequency about a conflict topic may lead to a buildup of unexpressed emotions, particularly anger, in stoic individuals, resulting in an explosive release of violence and aggression toward a romantic partner. Unique results on the relationship between stoicism and power and directions for future research are discussed.