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Editing Cylon Psychology

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{{NPOV}}
Cylon psychology is mostly left to viewers to interpret, being a mystery that generates conflict among characters and with which Galactica's creators tease and engage viewers throughout the four-season saga.   


{{RDM cylons series}}
Centurions appear soldierly and machine-like in Galactica, but Galactica leaves open how unfeeling and inhuman they truly are. Near the end of the saga, it is revealed that the Centurions reason and have free will, but that Cavil has switched these off. After dissenting models switch them back on, however, we see the Centurions almost exclusively either in battle or at attention. Based on their group decision to strike out on their own once liberated, from what individual Centurions seem to display through body language in one or two scenes, and from what the "skin-jobs" say about them, Centurions may assess their relationships with others as unfair and will act to change them on that account. Whether as per formula or human-like resentment is not clear. Their rigid faces are unintelligible and unchanging to human eyes, and they do not speak, making them essentially impossible to read.  
'''Cylon psychology''' is particularely ambiguous and complex, and it evolves in the time, especially for [[humanoid Cylon]]s.


== War-era Cylon Centurions' psychology ==
The humanoid models 1-8, built with the know-how and assistance of the Final Five, appear and behave human, even to the extent that they may feel experience life at times as humans do. Paradoxically, they also display a superhuman or inhuman capacity to display any feeling helpful toward deception and in service of atrocities.  
 
All [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|War-era Cylon Centurions]] have some parts of [[Zoe-R]] identity in their mainframe program. Sister [[Clarice Willow]] and [[Lacy Rand]] become aware of that and use it to fullfill their purposes {{CAP|The Heavens Will Rise|Apotheosis (episode)}}.
 
== Modern Cylon Centurions' psychology ==
 
At first sight, [[Cylon Centurion|Modern Centurions]] exist only to obey orders given by [[Humanoid Cylon]]s. Their purpose and existence are limited to humanoid closed guard and commando actions. Actually, according to {{callsign|Athena}}, the thinking function exists but has been switched off by [[Cavil]] in order to prevent a rise of the machines {{TRS|Precipice|Six of One}}.
 
== Humanoid Cylons psychology ==
 
The [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid models 1-8]], built with the know-how and assistance of the [[Final Five]], appear and behave human, even to the extent that they may feel experience life at times as humans do. Paradoxically, they also display a superhuman or inhuman capacity to display any feeling helpful toward deception and in service of atrocities.  
    
    
Though they are [[resurrection]]-ready and therefor immortal, they have never been children or matured within a human social environment. Most have had no human social experience whatsoever. Even [[Caprica-Six]] and Eight [[Sharon Valerii]], regarded with awe by others, experienced only a few years of life among humans at the most. The Cylons seem to lack even a theory for why humans do or feel as they do--not as the saga begins, at least. Their "[[The Plan|Plan]]" for dealing with the fleeing unexpected survivors of their extermination attempt switches from one tack to the next. They base choices on what "Caprica" and Sharon Valerii have managed to learn, and that's not much, judging from the failure of [[New Caprica]]
Though they are resurrection-ready and therefor immortal, they have never been children or matured within a human social environment. Most have had no human social experience whatsoever. Even Caprica Six and Eight Sharon Valerie, regarded with awe by others, experienced only a few years of life among humans at the most. The cylons seem to lack even a theory for why humans do or feel as they do--not as the saga begins, at least. Their "[[Plan|The Plan]" for dealing with the fleeing unexpected survivors of their extermination attempt switches from one tack to the next. They base choices on what "Caprica" and Sharon Valerie have managed to learn, and that's not much, judging from the failure of [[New Caprica]].   
 
Yet these two appear to have been affected even by their brief experience, such that they feel the pull of desires and emotions they did not have before and arguably become addicted to them. The psychology of the [[Number Six|Sixes]] and [[Number Eight|Eights]] at least is not entirely pre-fab or stable out of the box, in that they seem predisposed to life in human society, but born unwise to it, like pre-pubescent teens. Whether other models would opt for a human-like life, given sufficient experience of it, is less clear.   


The [[Number One|Ones]] do seem to come from the box ill-equipped and dead-set against it, but then humans can be like that too, most often as infants. Conceivably Ones could adapt to living as a human, were they obliged to do so, as children always are. But being born with seniority, authority and no strong commitment to democracy, the circumstance does not arise.
Yet these two appear to have been affected even by their brief experience, such that they feel the pull of desires and emotions they did not have before and arguably become addicted to them. The psychology of the Sixes and Eights at least is not entirely pre-fab or stable out of the box, in that they seem predisposed to life in human society, but born unwise to it, like pre-pubescent teens. Whether other models would opt for a human-like life, given sufficient experience of it, is less clear.


== Final Five psychology ==
The Ones do seem to come from the box ill-equipped and dead-set against it, but then humans can be like that too, most often as infants. Conceivably Ones could adapt to living as a human, were they obliged to do so, as children always are. But being born with seniority, authority and no strong commitment to democracy, the circumstance does not arise. 


The [[Final Five]] do not remember the lives from which they resurrected themselves two thousand years before, but they were born and raised from childhood in a society like humans. They are diverse, each an entirely human-seeming individual. Of course, they are not human, it seems reasonable to suppose that more or less they are.
The Final Five do not remember the lives from which they resurrected themselves two thousand years before, but they were born and raised from childhood in a society like humans. They are diverse, each an entirely human-seeming individual. Of course, they are not human, it seems reasonable to suppose that more or less they are.
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:Cylons (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]
[[fr:Psychologie des Cylons]]

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