The lucifer effect: Why good people turn bad?

Have you ever wondered why some people can do shockingly evil things. Are they bad by nature? Could it be that good people don't turn evil?

Renowned social psychologist and creator of the "Stanford Prison Experiment," Philip Zimbardo explores the mechanisms that make good people do bad things, how moral people can be seduced into acting immorally, and what this says about the line separating good from evil.

His studies on why good people turn bad has spanned over four decades and spawned a theory called the Lucifer Effect. So what is the Lucifer effect? Let's find out.

--

LazyOwl is also on:

[originalname]

I read the title as “why good people turn bald.”

[Anon-qyln]

“As you know, madness is like gravity…all it takes is a little push."

[bracebrooks]

I believe that some people go from good to bad as a result of being used a number of times to the point where they can't take it anymore, going unappreciated for their hard work or sacrifices, and overall retaliating towards one who has done him or her wrong or towards one whose done harm to that person's closest friends/family. I agree that constant rejection drives some people towards immorality as well.

[gabrielbanuelos]

“All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That’s how far the world is from where I am, Just One Bad Day…” - The Joker

[thattigerguy]

as Johnny Depp once said: power doesn't change people, it reveals them.

[edgarallanpoe]

“People are as good as the world allows them to be...”

[louderanimationTV]

"The line between good and evil lies at the center of every human heart." I agree with this quote. Our actions, our Art, our choices are related to our viewpoint on that line between good and evil. Our core beliefs define us, and it shows through our work.

[blazing-wolf]

I used to be kind and good to people and one day it felt like a switch flipped on in my head realizing all that effort of being a good person will only hurt you more

[CloudTribe]

People prey on the weak, kind and generous. At a certain point if a person isn't treated with enough love and respect they will 180.

[kenthefele]

“We must accept the fact that there are not only bad apples, but bad barrels, and in turn bad barrel makers.”
Beautifully said

[solaire]

I think it comes down to the people you surround yourself with or what environment you're exposed to, if you're a good person being that good person to people who do bad thing's or may not be good to you, you'll eventually get tired, exhausted and your good heart starts darkening because of the bad others do to you.

[Mikoru-]

The actual experiment with the students started out as a “ test “ because the students were saying all nazis were bad but the professor was telling them no not all but as the students were disagreeing with him he decided to pull this “ experiment “ for five days and told everyone if they participated all students would get a A and pass the class if they didn’t they would get an F and fail the class so students agreed quick the professor told them they must all sit up right and sit in a single line and must greet him every morning that was day 0 then day 1 he told them they must greet each other even outside of the classroom with a similar greeting as the “ nazis “ (he didn’t tell them like nazis but it was the same hand sign as ‘em) then day 2 came and the students formed groups and were assigned roles like he just described and that they will split into groups who make arm bands credit cards and banner/posters and give ‘em out then day 3 they made groups and started treating it like a real thing and made “ ranks “ and one student even thought of “ assassinating “ him to over power him and so they all started turning on each other and the ones who weren’t loyal were treated badly meanwhile the parents were getting concerned and the WHOLE SCHOOL started participating it went from a classroom to 3x or 4x the amount and got out of control 4th day the parents called him and were telling him how they were concerned etc etc he told em it’s okay he has it under control and the last day after knowing some of his students were thinking of over taking him ( even with plans on how to ACTUALLY kill him ) he gathered them all up in the gym stadium and had them watch a tv screen that was pure static as some tried to leave but couldn’t they began to feel uneasy so he stops the tv and tells them how they were no better than the Nazis themselves because how some students only participated due to the fear of being “ disloyal or odd one out “ and fear of what the others would do and others did it for “ Power and prestige “ and that’s how some of the “ Nazis “ probably felt as well and the rest is history
——————-
Edit: ( sorry if I got something wrong during the days it’s been a while since I read the story )

[saintarj]

I can literally feel the algorithm about to bless you

[reaper]

“You either die a hero, Or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

[alexman]

There’s an argument to be made that Walter never actually “turned evil”, he just never had the motivation or courage to let Heisenberg take over until he realized that his expiration date was closing in.

[redfluxbluedawn]

With enough trauma and mindcontrol, any human can be pushed to do any attrocity.
Some humans are just more "resilient" in their moral values to keep said trauma at bay or their personality intact, but ultimately, nobody is "pure", everybody has a breaking point, regardless of how "good" you consider yourself to be.

[arsh_]

"A villain is just a victim whose story has not been told."

[dergothischeimp]

I would say that evil is almost like a desease. If People are bullied, hurt and abused constanty, they are more likely to become abusers themselves...

[dipprebaixado]

The irony is that violence actually solves problems but if you use violence for self defense ur punished

[elmiabir]

There comes a point in your life when you realise people just had been using you and you being the generous one helped them unconditionally. You gave them their hands but whenever you are in crisis, they are just not there and you are left alone to deal with your problems. Overcome those problems, you won’t want to mix with people cause you’re mindset has been altered 🙂 This is me