In our introductory lecture, we examine why humans are uniquely oriented toward time—especially the future. We review research that shows that we think about the future three times more than the past, with planning as the dominant mode, supporting the view that thinking serves action. The lecture outlines a two-step model of effective future thinking: first envisioning desired outcomes, then planning realistically. Dr. Baumeister demonstrates that while present focus enhances well-being and reduces anxiety, integrating past, present, and future deepens meaning and helps quiet intrusive thoughts about unfinished tasks.

In lecture two, we look at the psychological underpinnings of evil, examining why people commit harmful acts and how perpetrators and victims perceive the same events differently. Dr. Baumeister identifies four root causes of evil behavior: instrumental, threatened egotism, idealism, and sadism. The discussion challenges common misconceptions about evil, particularly the myth that low self-esteem causes aggression, and emphasizes that self-control failure is often the proximate cause of violence, explaining why violence has decreased over time as societies have strengthened self-control mechanisms.

In lecture three, we investigate the perplexing phenomenon of self-destructive behavior, examining why people engage in actions that harm their own interests despite assumptions of human rationality. We identify three main categories: intentional self-harm, trade-offs between immediate benefits and long-term costs, and misregulation strategies that backfire. The discussion shows that high-arousal negative emotions particularly drive self-defeating choices by impairing rational thinking and shifting priorities toward immediate gratification, suggesting that pausing to consider long-term consequences is the most effective prevention strategy.