30 Must-Read Books for Psychologists

Individuals have a responsibility to resist evil. Even in difficult situations, it is important to maintain one’s moral compass and to speak out against injustice.

Zimbardo argues that the key to preventing evil is to create social and institutional conditions that promote ethical behavior and to empower individuals to resist situational pressures that may lead them to act immorally.

Best Quotes:

«Evil is an extreme but understandable reaction to situations that make it psychologically difficult to resist antisocial behaviors.»

«The greatest danger is that when we see evil, we comfort ourselves with the thought that we are not that kind of person. But it is a false comfort.»

«The path to evil is paved with good intentions.»

Criticism:

Some critics argue that Zimbardo oversimplifies the causes of evil and ignores individual responsibility.

Others question the ethical implications of the Stanford Prison Experiment, which formed the basis for the book’s findings.

Influence:

«The Lucifer Effect» has significantly influenced the fields of psychology, criminology, and social policy. It has led to a greater understanding of how situational factors can influence behavior and the importance of promoting ethical conduct in institutions.

Interesting Facts:

The book’s title refers to the biblical figure Lucifer, an angel who fell from grace and became known as the Devil.

Zimbardo conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment in 1971, which demonstrated how quickly ordinary college students became abusive and unethical when assigned to play the roles of prisoners and guards.

The book has been translated into over 20 languages and sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

WORDLIST:

capable – способный

circumstances – обстоятельства

clear ethical guidelines – четкие этические принципы

comfort ourselves with the thought – утешаем себя мыслью

ethical conduct – этическое поведение

ethical implications – этические последствия

empower individuals – наделить полномочиями отдельных лиц

evil acts – злые поступки

fluid state – текучее состояние

foster a culture of accountability – воспитывать культуру ответственности

group conformity – групповое единообразие

mitigate their influence – смягчить их влияние

necessary response – необходимый ответ

obedience to authority – повиновение авторитету

path – путь

paved with good intentions – вымощенный благими намерениями

resist evil – противостоять злу

responsibility – ответственность

situational pressures – ситуативное давление

speak out against injustice – высказываться против несправедливости

take steps – предпринимать шаги

threatening situation – угрожающая ситуация

unethical conduct – неэтичное поведение

who fell from grace – кто пал с небес

can be easily swayed – может быть легко склонен

Exercise 8

Fill in the gaps with the correct words or phrases from the list below:

capable

circumstances

evil acts

fluid state

paved

responsibility

resist