The Origin of Envy & Narcissism - René Girard

Blog: http://psychreviews.org/violence-and-the-sacred-rene-girard/

At the beginning of human communities there is a mystery surrounding how our ancestors created human societies and religions. Some theories focus on how human groupings aid survival for individual human families. Others focused on how a larger brain allowed the ability to understand the intentions of others, and hence group coordination. With a larger brain and the ability to reflect, early humans could reflect on their place in human society, mortality, and the meaning of life. Being able to benefit from shared knowledge, made humanity flourish. Yet despite the benefits of increased group living, humans have always had a sense of danger that came with the price of living in groups. One theory in particular, by the social science philosopher René Girard, clarified the reflective part of the mind that allows for humans to learn from others. He called it mimetics, or the ability to imitate.

Intro 0:00
The beginning of institutions 1:16
Triangular desire based on role models (Metaphysical desire) 4:15
Suggestions to imitate 7:37
Beyond Totem and Taboo 9:08
Chasing an illusion 9:55
Scandal and Conflict 11:45
Masochism 12:53
Sadism 14:57
Solidarity and scapegoating 18:07
The Myth of the Sacred and Propaganda 19:33
Awareness and revelation 21:40

Violent Origins - Walter Burkert, René Girard, and Jonathan Z. Smith: https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780804715188/

Deceit, Desire, & the Novel - René Girard: Paperback: https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780801818301/

Violence and the sacred - René Girard: https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9781472529251/

Things hidden since the foundation of the world - René Girard: https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780804722155/

Genesis of Desire - Jean-Michel Oughourlian: https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780870138768/

Reading the Bible with René Girard - Michael Hardin, Steven E. Berry, Scott Cowdell: https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9781514777510/

Savoring: A New Model of Positive Experience - Fred B. Bryant, Joseph Veroff: https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780805851205/

Totem and Taboo - Sigmund Freud: http://psychreviews.org/totem-taboo-sigmund-freud-envy-part-2/

On Narcissism - Sigmund Freud: http://psychreviews.org/on-narcissism-sigmund-freud/

Do Narcissists Truly Hate? - Sam Vaknin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nllxk6n6XuA

Hobbes, T., (1651). Leviathan, (pp. 76). McMaster University Archive of the History of Economic Thought. Retrieved from http://socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.ca/econ/ugcm/3ll3/hobbes/Leviathan.pdf

Music and stock photos from Storyblocks and Wikipedia.

Gabriel Faure - Requiem Op.48 - 5. Agnus Dei - European Archive

Intro music: Fast Gallop - Logue Ihn, BMI, 40, Dustin S Pearson, BMI, 30, William Pearson, BMI, 30,