“The ‘Lucifer Effect’ describes the point in time when an ordinary, normal person first crosses the boundary between good and evil to engage in an evil action. It represents a transformation of human character that is significant in its consequences. Such transformations are more likely to occur in novel settings, in ‘total situations,’ where social situational forces are sufficiently powerful to overwhelm, or set aside temporally, personal attributes of morality, compassion, or sense of justice and fair play.”
More from Philip Zimbardo
“A good way to avoid crimes of obedience is to assert one’s personal authority and always…”
“Our sense of power is more vivid when we break a man’s spirit than when we win his heart.”
“Our ability to selectively engage and disengage our moral standards . . . helps explain…”
“While no one can change events that occurred in the past, everyone can change attitudes…”