There is a reason the “good guy beats bad guy” stories are so prevalent. Authors are experts at tapping into human psychology to make their stories resonate. Good vs. evil speaks to our most basic instincts of how to make sense of the world and how to stay safe.

But as we grow older, we tend to realize that “good vs evil” is a simplistic, boiled down view of the world. People don’t nicely fit into these labels—there is nuance involved, and perspective, and cultures. There are our own biases and judgments. We realize that antagonists are not always evil incarnate, but often people who are also doing what they think is right.

Instincts are powerful, and in times of heightened emotions we draw heavily from them in order to see us safely and easily through a situation. If someone is attacking you with a knife, you don’t have the luxury of considering that person’s history or thought…