Illvilje

Illvilje is a Norwegian noun meaning ill will or malicious intent toward others. It denotes a conscious desire to harm, disadvantage, or distress another person, and it is typically contrasted with neutral or benevolent motives. The term is commonly used in everyday language as well as in ethical, legal, and psychological discussions.

Origin and usage: Illvilje is a compound of ill and vilje (will). In Norwegian, vilje denotes volition or purpose; ill modifies it to indicate bad will. Cognate forms exist in other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish illvilje and Swedish illvilja.

Contexts: In moral philosophy and ethics, illvilje is used to discuss blameworthiness and intent. In law, proof of illvilje can influence judgments about culpability and sentencing, as it signals deliberate wrongdoing rather than accidents. In psychology, illvilje is discussed as part of hostile or antisocial motivation, though it is not a formal clinical diagnosis; it can be related to aggression, manipulation, and coercive behavior, and may be examined alongside personality traits and situational factors.

Usage notes: The phrase å handle av illvilje (to act out of ill will) is common in Norwegian. In literature, illvilje is a frequent motive in conflicts and villainy. See also malice, hostility, ill intent, malevolence.