What is evil? Is everyone capable of evil? Are there just a few "bad apples" responsible for atrocities like the Holocaust? Abu Ghraib? The shooting in Tucson? Or do systems and circumstances have a strong influence in the perpetuating evil? What happens when good people are thrust into situations and systems that foster evil? These are the kinds of questions that Dr. Philip Zimbardo, professor emeritus of psychology at Stanford University, has been exploring for decades. Zimbardo has also been examining how our society can inspire and nurture more people to become heroes.Most of us think that evil is something that only "bad" people do, and that there's a line that has to be crossed (and that most of us safely hang out on the "good" side of the line). But Zimbardo asserts that any of us can and have done evil and can cross back and forth over that line. He also insists that any of us is capable of great heroism.
Our friends at the Greater Good Science Center recently have featured Zimbardo's words and work into good and evil. Zimbardo's essay, "What Makes a Hero?" explores what heroism is, why people become heroic, and how we can foster that heroic action. They also feature videos of Zimbardo talking about "What Makes a Hero?" and "The Truth About Good and Evil".
Check out his brilliant but disturbing TED talk about good and evil:
If you're an educator, check out ideas for exploring good and evil with your students, using Zimbardo's book, The Lucifer Effect.
And, read the interview we did with Dr. Zimbardo about the power of education and challenges for the future.
Our friends at the Greater Good Science Center recently have featured Zimbardo's words and work into good and evil. Zimbardo's essay, "What Makes a Hero?" explores what heroism is, why people become heroic, and how we can foster that heroic action. They also feature videos of Zimbardo talking about "What Makes a Hero?" and "The Truth About Good and Evil".
Check out his brilliant but disturbing TED talk about good and evil:
If you're an educator, check out ideas for exploring good and evil with your students, using Zimbardo's book, The Lucifer Effect.
And, read the interview we did with Dr. Zimbardo about the power of education and challenges for the future.
The sooner we stop using the "bad apple" lens and realize that the evil in our world has much more to do with systems and situations, the sooner we can transform those systems and help nurture fewer "bad guys" and more heroes.
~ Marsha
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3 comments:
Wonderful links, thank you.
I find it particularly interesting that people who are considered heroes tend to describe their actions in similar ways, over and over again telling the rest of us that heroism is part of who we are as people:
http://lauragraceweldon.com/2011/01/10/making-heroism-happen/
It's heartening, and another way of seeing the best in ourselves and those around us.
Thanks for visiting, Laura, and for sharing the link to your interesting post. Heroism is definitely something that is part of who we are, and like all parts of us, can be brought to the fore with inspiration and nurturing.
Be well,
Marsha
I do think there are a few bad apples responsible for these events. They are extremely well placed, very wealthy, very selfish, brutal and psychotic. They head our countries and our corporations. They lie and support a planetary environment of denial, murder, starvation, toxicity and hate. I do believe that if this handful, maybe a hundred or so key bad apples were brought to heel and taught to behave themselves, we'd all live more happy, our children would be safer and the planet would finally be at peace. yes, i think they should be imprisoned, the lot of them. they should be in abu graib or some such other place. :)
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