Understanding How Good People Turn Evil - The Lucifer Effect

I must say I had high expectation for this book. Unfortunately, the 500 pages used to discuss Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment and the underlying psychological principles behind "How Good People Become Evil" could have been condensed into 100-200 pages.

If, like me, you were looking forward to delving deep into the psychological aspects of this hypothesis I fear you may be disappointed.

Purchased the book for a school reading requirement and I find it to be a fantastic read. The subject matter is gripping and the whole book is very informative. Helped change my perspective on many social topics.

I appreciated Zimbardo's style very much. His long experience as researcher and teacher is reflected in his exposition of observations and conclusions. However I found the message too painful to handle in large doses, and it took me a long time to finish the book. For more on the situational determinants of antisocial behavior also read ""Faces of the Enemy" by Keen and "Why They Kill" by Rhodes.

A fascinating read that should be compulsory for all humans with a capacity for doing both good and evil ... statistically 100% of us. Due to the very wide ripple effects of the Standford Prison Experiment, Zimbardo goes into very great and for me, excessive, detail about for instance, the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison. Nevertheless, an absorbing and compelling read.

I appreciated Zimbardo's style very much. His long experience as researcher and teacher is reflected in his exposition of observations and conclusions. However I found the message too painful to handle in large doses, and it took me a long time to finish the book. For more on the situational determinants of antisocial behavior also read ""Faces of the Enemy" by Keen and "Why They Kill" by Rhodes.

A fascinating read that should be compulsory for all humans with a capacity for doing both good and evil ... statistically 100% of us. Due to the very wide ripple effects of the Standford Prison Experiment, Zimbardo goes into very great and for me, excessive, detail about for instance, the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison. Nevertheless, an absorbing and compelling read.

This book provides an in-depth study of the Stanford Prison Experiment and of the factors that allowed the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison, and ties them together neatly. Fascinating read for anyone interested in human behavior. The book got bogged down somewhat in its analysis of the politics that led to the abuses at Abu, but was overall an insightful study of how something like that can still happen.

A study on situational and system environments that has a direct impact on human behavior. How do we act or re-act in a particular situation or in a particular system. The Bible references and teaches us throughout. A well documented references guide and study on the influences on behavior. Best we learn to manage this in order to behave appropriately in our journey to follow Jesus and the Word. Therefore let each of us keep from doing evil.

Another interesting book from Zimbardo. This book should be on the shelves of all who serve in an authority role (police officers, military, teachers, coaches, etc.)and others interested in human behavior. Could something like this happen to you?

While this may look like it's a boring psychological look at human behavior, Zimbardo writes very clearly and descriptively...writing as though he were right there in the room talking about it with you, showing you the videos, and reading you the journals. Great read and lots to take away from the book. :)

Dr. Zimbardo's account of the Stanford Prison Experiment is very interesting and applied across a variety of circumstances. The story becomes a little repetitive at times but is easy to skim through.

THis Book is amazing!!!.... How Good People turn Evil?....

But here in Guayaquil-Ecuador ....!!!! they are doing the same things, but with children!!!!

I just hear about a case in which a 6 year old boy was the target of two teachers who were in charge of being like brain washers and create an emotional conflict inside the child's mind in order to make him hate his home and family. This took place in a school called ¨Vida Nueva¨

Fortunately...the family of the child foresaw all the game before they can hurt him and took him away on time!!!!

Social Engineering is a good tool, but.... if Lucifer's hands are in charge of it ...that become a nightmare!, specially if the one who use it is a director of the Social Action and Education Department at the Mayor Office!!!!

So...Philip Zimbardo needs to come to visit Guayaquil - Ecuador( NO man Land and lucifer living room) ...in order to see how many things can be done in the name of well being!

Dr. Zimbardo's analysis of his Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) along with similar experiments and real-world events convincingly demonstrates the power of the situation to create both heroes and villians. Zimbardo skillfully dissects the holocaust by reviewing previous research and comes up with interesting conclusions. I recommend this book to anyone interested in psychology, but especially for students of social psychology. I think this would also be great for anyone interested in understanding what causes evil deeds.

This book is probably worth reading. I'm writing this to warn readers that the type in the paperback edition is very very small. I have normal vision and don't need glasses to read. After a few pages, I felt great difficulty with the type.
This book is not light reading and concerns serious matters. I would suggest reading it. If you have trouble reading small print, you'd probably be better off with an electronic version. I have no idea about the hardcover edition, so I can't comment on it.

Zimbardo provides the most comprehensive review -- from Millgram to the Stanford Prison Project to the Iraqi prison atrocities -- of the systemic forces that can transform (almost) all of us to commit evil acts.

If you need to be convinced that personality is less important than situational factors in shaping behavior, this is the place to start changing your mind.

Interesting book, but could have been condensed into about half the length. A bit repetitive. I find the way the SPE was conducted to be a bit disturbing as I question the ethics of the experiment, lessons not withstanding.

By today's standards, the Stanford Prison experiment would, as the author admits half-way through the book, bring him lawsuits. I believe other charges would be possible too. I found the description of the students' treatment during the project so objectionable that whatever insights gained about human behavior were overshadowed. The author's style comes across as self-promotion for this project and other work he's done. My background is in behavioral science and I can't recommend this book for general readers.

EXCELLENT , EXCELLENT , BOOK. THIS IS A MUST READ . THE FIRST PART WAS REALLY HARD TO READ BUT HANG IN THERE AND YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID. I WISH THIS BOOK WAS A REQUIREMENT TO READ FOR ALL AUTHORITIES, BOSSES, TEACHERS, PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS, COLLEGE STUDENTS,PEOPLE IN GENERAL,ETC ETC

By today's standards, the Stanford Prison experiment would, as the author admits half-way through the book, bring him lawsuits. I believe other charges would be possible too. I found the description of the students' treatment during the project so objectionable that whatever insights gained about human behavior were overshadowed. The author's style comes across as self-promotion for this project and other work he's done. My background is in behavioral science and I can't recommend this book for general readers.

EXCELLENT , EXCELLENT , BOOK. THIS IS A MUST READ . THE FIRST PART WAS REALLY HARD TO READ BUT HANG IN THERE AND YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID. I WISH THIS BOOK WAS A REQUIREMENT TO READ FOR ALL AUTHORITIES, BOSSES, TEACHERS, PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS, COLLEGE STUDENTS,PEOPLE IN GENERAL,ETC ETC

This Seller provided surprisingly fast shipping and the product was in better shape than anticipated. What they considered "very good" I would've consider "New." I will look for more books from Bordee. As an avid fan, and student of Psychology, this 2007 1st. Ed. from a brilliant psychologist is a must-read. Eye-opening as it gets, when viewing what "civilized and/or modern society" is thoroughly capable of.The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil

While i think the central ideas presented in this book are compelling, I found some aspects were unclear and in some cases debatable. The area which covers heroes and examples given. The area on heroes was a low point for me. I'm with Christopher Hitchens - Mother Teresa should not be considered a hero, and nore should a suicide bomber. Though it may have been an intention to tease out cultural influences, it could have gone further to extend passed backward cultural confines and use science as a clear guide (regarding heroes). A point concerning personal disposition, holding and peging responsibly of choices made on perpetrators in the face of formidable situational factors seems to contradict a central claim of this book at times. I don't think it has to undermine the message that systemic and situational pressures are powerful guides of behaviour. All in all, a great book.