Name: The psychology of evil
Uploaded: 2008-09-23T01:00:00Z
Duration: 22 min 56 s
Description: Philip Zimbardo knows how easy it is for nice people to turn bad. In this talk, he shares insights and graphic unseen photos from the Abu Ghraib trials. Then he talks about the flip side: how easy it is to be a hero, and how we can rise to the challenge.

Philip Zimbardo knows how easy it is for nice people to turn bad. In this talk, he shares insights and graphic unseen photos from the Abu Ghraib trials. Then he talks about the flip side: how easy it is to be a hero, and how we can rise to the challenge.

The psychology of evil

Ordinary people can cross the line between good and evil, often without realizing it, when placed in powerful situations. Graphic photos from Abu Ghraib and experiments like the Stanford Prison Study reveal how systems and circumstances can drive cruelty. Even small actions, like pressing a button in an authority's presence, can escalate into serious harm. Yet the same conditions that spark evil can also inspire everyday heroism if people choose to act.

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Philip Zimbardo: The psychology of evil