30 Must-Read Books for Psychologists

Оксана Вячеславовна Иванова (2024)

Данное пособие представляет собой обзоры 30 наиболее значимых книг в области психологии. Каждый обзор содержит: ключевые идеи книги, наиболее яркие цитаты, интересные факты, подробный словарик с ключевыми терминами, упражнения для закрепления материала.

UNIT 7

The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil by Philip Zimbardo (2007)

Key Ideas:

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.

Best Quotes:

"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."

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

● 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.