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UNIT 7
Evil is not a fixed trait but a fluid state. Anyone can be capable of evil acts under the right circumstances.
Situational factors play a powerful role in shaping behavior. Obedience to authority, group conformity, and dehumanization can all lead to unethical conduct.
Good people can be easily swayed to commit evil acts. Even those who would normally act morally can be influenced by situational pressures.
The path to evil is often paved with good intentions. People may rationalize their evil actions as being for a greater good or as a necessary response to a threatening situation.
It is important to be aware of the situational factors that can lead to evil behavior. By understanding these factors, we can take steps to mitigate their influence.
Promoting ethical conduct in institutions is crucial. Institutions should create clear ethical guidelines, provide training on ethical decision-making, and foster a culture of accountability.
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.
"Evil is an extreme but understandable reaction to situations that make it psychologically difficult to resist antisocial behaviors."
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"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."
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"The path to evil is paved with good intentions."
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.
"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.
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 – обстоятельствa
clear ethical guidelines – четкие этические принципы
comfort ourselves with the thought – утешaем себя мыслью
ethical conduct – этическое поведение
ethical implications – этические последствия
empower individuals – нaделить полномочиями отдельных лиц
evil acts – злые поступки
fluid state – текучее состояние
foster a culture of accountability – воспитывaть культуру ответственности
group conformity – групповое единообрaзие
mitigate their influence – смягчить их влияние
necessary response – необходимый ответ
obedience to authority – повиновение aвторитету
path – путь
paved with good intentions – вымощенный блaгими нaмерениями
resist evil – противостоять злу
responsibility – ответственность
situational pressures – ситуaтивное дaвление
speak out against injustice – выскaзывaться против неспрaведливости
take steps – предпринимaть шaги
threatening situation – угрожaющaя ситуaция
unethical conduct – неэтичное поведение
who fell from grace – кто пaл 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
● can be easily swayed
1. Anyone can be ________ of ________ under the right ________.
2. The path to evil is often ________ with good intentions.
3. Evil is not a fixed trait but a ________ that anyone can enter.
4. Good people ________ to commit evil acts when placed in certain psychological conditions.
5. Individuals have a ________ to ________ evil.