2026 Global Social Work Midterm Question 1
1. Please watch the Ted talk by Philip Zimbardo:
https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_the_psychology_of_evil
a. Name four characteristics of social systems that can pressure good people to do very bad things.
b. Zimbardo also describes how some people manage to resist systemic pressures; they are "heroes." Name one hero in your own country, what the person did, and what makes the person a hero.
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ReplyDelete1. A. Philip Zimbardo argues that evil often does not arise from "bad people," but from situations and systems that can change even completely normal and good people's behavior. He shows that certain circumstances can force a person to behave in a way that they would never behave in a safe, fair, and supportive environment. This helps us understand that human behavior is strongly influenced not only by personal characteristics, but also by social context. Zimbardo identifies several characteristics of social systems that can encourage bad behavior. First of all, obedience to authority. People often follow orders simply because they are given by a superior, even if those orders contradict their values. Secondly, people lose their individuality, become "one of many" and feel less responsible for their actions. Thirdly, when many people do the same thing, each person feels only slightly responsible. People think, "It's not just my fault, we all did it," and therefore find it easier to justify their actions. Fourth, when you start to see another person not as a person, but as an "object," an "enemy," or "deserving of punishment," then cruel behavior becomes easier, and empathy and humanity disappear. These thoughts remind me that human behavior is highly dependent on the environment in which it occurs. Therefore, it is important to create systems in which people feel seen, valued, and responsible. When the environment is humane and fair, people are much more likely to behave well. When the system becomes cold, harsh, or unfair, even good people can change for the worse. I think this is an important message for both society and social work.
ReplyDeleteB. Nijolė Sadūnaitė (1938–2024) is one of Lithuania's most prominent dissidents, whose life and work perfectly reflect Zimbardo's concept of a hero. During the Soviet era, she chose a path that required not only moral courage, but also the ability to resist very strong systemic pressure. These were times when speaking the truth, defending human rights, or even simply refusing to obey the rules of the regime could cost one's freedom, health, or even life.
Sadūnaitė was actively involved in underground activities: she distributed the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, collected and published information about human rights violations committed by the Soviets, and helped persecuted people. She did this knowing that she was being watched and that she could be arrested, interrogated, or sent to a labor camp at any moment. And yet she did not back down. This shows not only her personal courage, but also her ability to remain true to herself in a system that constantly tried to break her. The Soviet authorities arrested her, interrogated her, humiliated her, and ultimately convicted her. Nijolė Sadūnaitė suffered physical and psychological abuse, but even under such conditions, she refused to lie or betray others. She remained true to her values, which is precisely the kind of resilience that Zimbardo calls heroism: the ability to adhere to morality even when the environment encourages the opposite behavior. Nijolė Sadūnaitė is a hero not because she sought fame or recognition, but because she chose truth and humanity when it was dangerous to do so. She defended human dignity when the system encouraged dehumanization. She refused to obey authority when it demanded injustice. She took responsibility for her actions, even though she could have hidden behind others. And she saw every person as valuable, even when the system tried to turn people into mere "files" or "enemies." This is a very clear example of Zimbardo's "everyday hero" - a person who chooses truth and morality, even when it comes at a high price.
In his TED Talk The Psychology of Evil, Philip Zimbardo explains that evil is often not the result of “bad people,” but of powerful social systems that pressure ordinary individuals to act against their values. He identifies several characteristics of such systems. First, people often take a small unethical step without reflection, and this gradually leads to more serious wrongdoing. Second, dehumanization makes it easier to harm others because empathy is reduced. Third, responsibility becomes diffused within a group, so individuals feel less personally accountable for their actions. Fourth, blind obedience to authority pushes people to follow orders without questioning whether they are morally right.
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me most is that Zimbardo emphasizes that systems are powerful — they shape behavior more than we tend to admit. Yet he also speaks about “heroes”: ordinary people who resist pressure, question authority, and act according to conscience even when it is risky. Heroism, in this sense, is not about perfection, but about moral courage in complex situations.
Reflecting on my own country, I think of Salomėja Nėris. Her life is complicated and controversial, especially because of her political choices during a difficult historical period. However, if we look at her through the lens of moral tension and systemic pressure, she represents how deeply individuals can be influenced by political systems, ideology, and historical circumstances. At the same time, her poetry expressed emotional sensitivity, love for her homeland, and deep human feeling. Her story reminds us that individuals live within powerful systems that shape their decisions, sometimes in ways that history later judges harshly.
In this sense, heroism is not always simple or clear. A hero is someone who reflects, questions, and dares to act differently when pressured to conform. Zimbardo’s idea encourages us to build social systems that promote responsibility, empathy, and critical thinking, rather than blind obedience. For me, the most important lesson is that preventing evil is not only about changing individuals — it is about changing systems so that they support conscience instead of suppressing it.
I agree with Dovydas’ observation that, as Philip Zimbardo’s TED Talk illustrates, the power of systems can strongly influence societal behavior, often pushing people to act against their values or conscience. This clearly shows how social structures, authority, and group pressures can shape decisions and even “normalize” harmful behavior.
DeleteHowever, as Dovydas also rightly points out, there are many individuals who, despite these powerful systemic pressures, choose to listen to their conscience and uphold their moral principles, even when doing so is risky or requires significant courage. These people demonstrate that moral resilience and critical thinking can help resist conformity, and their actions serve as examples for others on how to maintain personal values in challenging circumstances. They show that even powerful systems cannot completely suppress conscience or personal responsibility, and such behavior can inspire broader social change, fostering empathy and a sense of accountability within society.
I think you describe Zimbardo’s idea very clearly, especially the part about how systems can slowly push ordinary people beyond their moral boundaries. I also find important your observation that harmful behavior often begins with small steps that at first seem insignificant. This shows how easily people can adapt to the situation around them without fully realizing what is happening.
DeleteI also agree with your thought that systems are powerful and shape human behavior more than we usually admit. Sometimes people like to believe that everything depends only on personal character, but Zimbardo reminds us that the environment and social pressure can strongly influence decisions.
Your reflection about Salomėja Nėris is also interesting because you show that history and moral choices are often complex and not always black-and-white. People live in difficult historical contexts, and their decisions are often shaped by fear, ideology, and the political situation around them.
For me, one of the most important ideas in Zimbardo’s talk is similar to what you mention at the end: preventing evil is not only about judging individuals, but also about creating systems that support responsibility and critical thinking. When people feel encouraged to question authority and think independently, it becomes easier to resist harmful pressure.
After watching Philip Zimbardo's TED talk on how ordinary people can be driven to do bad things, I thought about how much our environment and the situations we find ourselves in affect us. I identified four characteristics of social systems that, according to Zimbardo, can push even good people to behave badly: first, the system provides power and authority that can be abused, especially when the rules are unclear or supervision is weak; second, strong group norms force people to conform even when the behavior becomes wrong; third, deindividuation, when a person feels as if they have dissolved into the group, reduces personal responsibility; Fourth, blind obedience to authority, when orders are carried out even if they contradict one's moral values. These ideas are related to Zimbardo's notion that the problem is not always bad people, but that the system itself can create a bad barrel in which even good apples begin to rot.
ReplyDeleteWatching this speech, I felt a certain anxiety and even inner discomfort - I realized how easy it is for a person to succumb to peer pressure and how quickly our behavior can change if we find ourselves in the wrong circumstances. I was most struck by the idea that none of us are completely immune to such changes, and this made me appreciate more the importance of awareness and responsibility for our actions. Zimbardo argues that true heroes are those people who, despite pressure, choose to tell the truth and ask uncomfortable questions. In Lithuania, Rūta Vanagaitė is such a hero to me. She wrote a book called Mūsiškiai (Our People), in which she openly discusses a painful part of Lithuanian history - the participation of Lithuanians in the massacre of Jews during World War II. This is a topic that many had previously avoided, and when she spoke out about it, she faced a lot of criticism, resistance, and even personal attacks. However, she did not give up on her belief that it is important to look at the past honestly, even if it is painful. She is a hero to me because she showed the courage to talk about complex issues and encourage society to reflect. This is very much in line with Zimbardo's idea that heroism arises when a person chooses truth and morality, even though the environment pressures them to do the opposite.
LINA VYŠNIAUSKIENĖ
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, this video shocked me, I was not prepared to watch such terrible images.
This video is a TED Talks platform content about what motivates people to behave badly. It does not specifically name the four characteristics of the social system, but psychologist Philip Zimbardo in his other works has studied what motivates good and ordinary people to do bad things. Based on P. Zimbardo's theory of the "Lucifer effect", 4 social characteristics can be distinguished:
1. Deindividuation (self-impersonation), for example, through uniforms or numbers.
2. Dehumanization (dehumanization) - victims are depicted as insignificant objects, not as personalities, so it becomes psychologically easier to commit violence against them.
3. Diffusion of responsibility - believes that the entire group or higher management is responsible for the consequences, and not himself.
4. Uncritical obedience to authority - pressure to carry out instructions and follow rules.
This psychologist analyzes not only the roots of evil, but also heroism. He distinguishes A) opposition to evil, B) opportunity for everyone, C) resistance to the system. His research shows that heroism is not a rare quality, but a conscious choice of a person to rise above circumstances, not to be afraid to accept challenges.
In Lithuania, we could mention Chiune Sugihara, who issued transit visas and saved thousands of Jews. His behavior is heroic because he did not listen to the instructions of the authorities, risked his career and life. We can also include the defenders of January 13, 1991, who risked their lives for the freedom of the entire country, showed civic courage against the system.
A. Philip Zimbardo argues that bad behavior often arises not because of bad people, but because of powerful social systems that influence ordinary people. I believe that people's negative behavior is strongly influenced by the power they have. As the author states, "one important factor is the first small step." A person may start with a small unethical act, and over time this can escalate into more serious offenses.
ReplyDeleteI believe that people's negative behavior is strongly influenced by the power they have. Research shows that power can reduce empathy and increase impulsive or unethical behavior (Keltner, Gruenfeld, & Anderson, 2003). Individuals in positions of authority may begin to see themselves as superior, which increases the likelihood of abusing power. As Zimbardo (2007) states, “one important factor is the first small step.” A person may start with a minor unethical action, and through gradual moral disengagement, this behavior can escalate into more serious offenses. This gradual process is also explained by Bandura’s (1999) theory of moral disengagement, which suggests that individuals justify harmful actions through cognitive mechanisms that reduce feelings of guilt.
Another important factor is the decline of humanism and the process of dehumanization. When people perceive others as less human or inferior, it becomes easier to mistreat them. According to Haslam (2006), dehumanization involves denying others human qualities such as warmth, individuality, and moral worth. This phenomenon is visible in various institutional contexts. For example, bullying in schools, corruption and inequality in prisons, and hierarchical systems based on power and financial status all demonstrate how social structures can normalize unequal treatment.
The distribution of responsibility is also significant. In large systems, individuals often feel less personally accountable because responsibility is shared among many people. This process, known as diffusion of responsibility, was demonstrated in classic social psychology research (Darley & Latané, 1968). Similarly, studies on obedience to authority conducted by Stanley Milgram (1963) revealed that individuals may harm others simply because they are instructed to do so by an authority figure. Participants frequently justified their behavior by stating they were “just following orders.” This dynamic is especially evident in war contexts and highly hierarchical institutions.
Finally, obedience to authority and pressure to conform strongly influence human behavior. Solomon Asch (1951) demonstrated that individuals often conform to group norms even when they believe the group is wrong, primarily due to fear of social rejection. This suggests that negative behavior may not stem from inherent cruelty but from a strong desire to belong and avoid exclusion.
B: Ona Šimaitė was a Lithuanian librarian at Vilnius University during the Nazi occupation of Lithuania (1941–1944). During the Nazi occupation, Ona Šimaitė helped Jews imprisoned in the Vilnius Ghetto by smuggling food, documents, and messages. She also helped children escape. For her actions, she was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.
Similarly, many other Lithuanian citizens demonstrated moral courage in different historical periods. During the Lithuanian press ban (1864–1904), when Lithuanian publications in Latin script were forbidden by the Tsarist Russian Empire, book smugglers (knygnešiai) risked imprisonment, exile to Siberia, or persecution in order to secretly transport and distribute Lithuanian books. Their actions helped preserve the Lithuanian language, national identity, and cultural resistance against oppression.
Four Characteristics of Social Systems That Can Pressure Good People to Do Very Bad Things:
ReplyDeletePhilip Zimbardo in his talk explains that certain social systems contain built-in features that can pressure ordinary, good people to commit harmful acts. As Maas Weigert (2008) said: “Structural violence emerges from the unequal distribution of power and resources or, in other words, is said to be built into the structure(s)”. Talking about characteristics from P. Zimbardo talk, the first and major one is dehumanization, where others are labeled as enemies, criminals, or objects, making it psychologically easier to mistreat them. Another is diffusion of responsibility, in which individuals feel less personally accountable because authority or the group is seen as responsible for decisions. A third factor is blind obedience to authority, where people follow orders without questioning their morality, especially in rigid hierarchies like the military or prisons. Finally, conformity to group norms pushes individuals to copy the behavior of those around them, even when that behavior becomes cruel or unethical. Together, these system characteristics create powerful situational pressures that can override personal values and gradually lead people down a “slippery slope” of increasingly harmful actions.
Example of a Hero in My Country (Lithuania):
After watching the TED Talk, I immediately thought of Romas Kalanta, whose actions became a symbol of courage and resistance against injustice. In 1972, during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, R. Kalanta set himself on fire in a public place in Kaunas to protest political repression and the denial of freedom. His act was not driven by personal gain but by a deep sense of moral responsibility and the desire to awaken society from fear and passivity. This shocking sacrifice sparked mass demonstrations among young people and showed how one individual’s bravery could challenge a powerful and oppressive system. R. Kalanta is considered a hero because he willingly took the greatest personal risk - his own life to stand up for truth, dignity, and national freedom, even when most people were too afraid to resist openly. His legacy continues today: in Kaunas, there is a memorial dedicated to him, and a street is named in his honor as a sign of respect and remembrance. As a fun fact, I actually live on Romas Kalanta Street, which makes his story feel even more meaningful to me.
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DeleteAfter reading your comment, I thought that I strongly agree with you about R.Kalanta. He is truly a national hero whose actions have gone down in the history of the nation. Despite all the repressions experienced by the citizens of that period, the country has been independent for over thirty years now, and R.Kalanta, who died for his homeland, is known as one of the most prominent heroes of that period.
DeleteI really liked your explanation of Zimbardo’s ideas and how social systems can influence people’s behavior. Your example of Romas Kalanta was very powerful and clearly shows what Zimbardo describes as a “hero” who resists systemic pressure. I also found it interesting that his actions inspired others to protest against injustice. The personal connection you mentioned about living on his street made the story even more meaningful.
DeleteIn his TED talk, “The Psychology of Evil,” Philip Zimbardo explains why good, normal people sometimes do very bad things. He argues that evil often arises not because of a person’s character but because of the situation and social system in which a person finds themselves. Social psychology shows that the environment can have a powerful impact on people.
ReplyDeleteZimbardo cites examples such as his famous experiment, the Stanford Prison Experiment. In this study, students were divided into “prisoners” and “guards,” and even ordinary people quickly began to behave violently because of the situation, authority, and peer pressure.
In the talk, he also discusses the “Lucifer Effect,” the idea that certain social conditions can push good people to do bad things. However, Zimbardo emphasizes that people can also choose the opposite—to become heroes who stand up to an evil system and help others.
a) Four Characteristics of Social Systems
According to Zimbardo, there are several social processes that can pressure good people to do bad things. For example: 1. Dehumanization of others – when victims are no longer considered full human beings.
2. Diffusion of responsibility – when a person feels that the responsibility belongs to the group, not to themselves. 3. Obedience to authority – people follow orders even if they are wrong. 4. Conformity – people do bad things because everyone else in the group is doing so. These processes help create a “slippery slope to evil”, where a person begins to do increasingly bad things in small steps.
b) One example of a hero in Lithuania is Jonas Žemaitis.
He was a Lithuanian partisan leader who fought against the Soviet occupation after World War II. He led the partisan movement and sought to restore an independent Lithuanian state. In 1949, he became the leader of the Lithuanian Freedom Struggle Movement and de facto president of Lithuania.
The Soviet authorities arrested him, imprisoned him in Moscow, and murdered him in 1954. He is considered a hero because: he opposed the occupation system,risked his life for the freedom of Lithuania, led a resistance movement. This is consistent with Zimbardo's idea that heroes are people who do not give in to systemic pressure and choose to defend moral values.
And another famous Lithuanian hero is Chiune Sugihara.
He was a Japanese diplomat in Kaunas during World War II. In 1940, he issued thousands of transit visas to Jews, even though this was against the instructions of his government. Thanks to these visas, about 6,000 people were saved from the Holocaust. He is considered a hero because: • he ignored pressure from the government, • he risked his career and safety, • he saved thousands of lives. This is a great example of what Zimbardo is talking about: some people are able to resist the pressure of the system and act morally, even if it is dangerous for themselves.
a. Four aspects of social systems that may put good individuals under pressure to commit very bad things.
ReplyDeleteIn his speech, Philip Zimbardo describes how the situational and systemic factors frequently influence harmful behavior and not bad people. This idea reflects the situational approach in social psychology, which emphasizes how context and institutional structures influence behavior.
Deindividuation and anonymity.
Individuals do not feel individually accountable of their behavior when they perceive anonymity in a system. Uniforms, masks, or masses can minimize responsibility and increase the risks of bad behavior.
Sharing of responsibility.
Responsibility in big organizations is shared among a lot of individuals. People can engage in destructive behavior since they feel that it is someone to blame.
Blind obedience and unquestioned authority.
Powerful authority systems may compel individuals to obey the instructions without their questioning even when such behaviors are against their values. This relationship was also evident in the famous obedience experiments by Stanley Milgram (1963) who revealed that normal individuals can obey harmful commands when they are commanded to do so by the people of authority.
Progressive increase in harmful behavior.
Bad systems tend to begin with little activities which gradually grow. Due to the fact that every step appears to be slightly worse than the one before it, people get desensitized gradually.
b. An anti-systemic hero: Alexei Navalny.
Alexei Navalny is one of the modern heroes in Russia. He gained fame as the person who revealed corruption on the part of senior government officials through online investigations.
In August 2020, Navalny was poisoned using the nerve agent Novichok. In January 2021, he decided to come back to Russia after having recovered in Germany, despite the danger of imprisonment. He was instantly arrested and had been censureing corruption and dictatorship behind bars.
Navalny is a hero since he was able to stand up against systemic pressure, which includes political oppression and threats to his life. The fact that he chose to go back demonstrates moral bravery and readiness to go against an unjust system at his own risk.
I think that the behavior of Navalny would be classified as an everyday heroism by Zimbardo, as people sometimes have to do what is right even in the environment where the system suggests to remain silent or obey.
The main message of Philip Zimbardo is that there are systems and situations that create ideal conditions for ordinary, good people to do bad things. Rather than the behavior reflecting individual character, it is the social system that is influencing their behavior.
ReplyDeleteThe first characteristic that can pressure people to do bad things is anonymity. In the experiment, the guards were anonymous, which led to abuse of power. When a person is anonymous or indistinguishable within a group, they feel less personally accountable for their actions. We currently see examples of this in the United States. It is common for individuals working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be masked. Giving someone in power the opportunity to be anonymous quickly leads to abuse of power.
The second characteristic that can pressure good people to do bad things is diffusion of responsibility. Being a part of a group that is sanctioning this behavior makes it easier to make bad decisions. Rather than feeling personally responsible for the horrible actions, responsibility is spread across many people. It is easy for an individual to justify their actions and feel that someone else is accountable.
The third characteristic that can pressure good people to do bad things is unquestioned authority and obedience. This phenomenon is demonstrated in the experiment explained by Zimbardo at around 10:45 in the TED Talk. In this experiment one person is the “Learner” and one person is the “Teacher”. The “Learner” is hooked up to a machine that shocks them, and the “Teacher” controls the shocks. There is a person of authority in the room with the “Teacher” who is giving instructions to the “Teacher”. The person of authority in the lab coat says that if the “Learner” gets an answer right, then the “Teacher” rewards the “Learner” but if the “Learner” gets an answer wrong, then the “Teacher” needs to push a button to send a shock to the “Learner”. As the experiment goes on, the shocks get stronger. The person of authority continues to assure the “Teacher” that he should continue, even as the shocks get more severe. The experiment found that 65% of subjects went all the way to the highest number of volts. This experiment shows how when there is someone in power telling you what to do, it is very easy to just blindly follow orders from authority.
The fourth characteristic that can pressure good people to do bad things is situational power and falling into role expectations. Zimbardo’s experiment with the “guard” and “prisoner”, shows how it is possible for humans to conform to the expectations of that role. This leads to individuals behaving in ways they normally would not behave.
Hero: I live in the United States and a hero that comes to mind is Dorothy Day. She lived in New York City and she was alive from 1897 – 1980. She converted to Catholicism as a young adult. Throughout her life, Dorothy burned with a passion for justice. She advocated for caring for the poor and promoted labor rights. She believed in the inherent dignity of all humans. She also lived out this radical belief of taking on the personal responsibility of loving your neighbor. Instead of believing it is the responsibility of the government, charities, or some other bureaucracy, she saw it as her personal responsibility to care for each other. I think of her as a hero in our country because she challenged authority. She questioned the systems and advocated for improvements to the systems. Also, instead of shifting responsibility onto an institution or something else, she took on the personal responsibility to work to make the country and world a better place.
Hi Stephanie! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am glad that you chose Dorothy Day as your personal hero. She is also one of mine, as her philosophy of radical hospitality resonates with me so much. During college in Kansas City and even now as a graduate student in Chicago, I try my best to visit Catholic Worker houses. These played a significant part in forming me into the person that I am today and I continue trying my best to ground myself in community dinners and coffee/tea days with St. Francis House here in Uptown, Chicago, Illinois.
Delete
ReplyDeletea. According to Philip Zimbardo, harmful behaviours often emerge not from inherently evil individuals but from powerful situational and systemic influences and some aspects of social systems are capable of promoting conditions under which normal people become influenced by certain pressures that trigger them to perform unethical behaviours. Anonymity is one of such characteristics. Once they do not know who is watching them or they cannot be easily recognized, they lose the feeling of personal responsibility. This decreased responsibility can promote the possibility to indulge in dangerous or abusive behaviour. The second characteristics is diffusion of responsibility. In group activities, there is a shared responsibility of many people who must take up actions. Consequently, individuals can develop a sense of less personal responsibility over the outcomes of their behaviours, and thus they can easily excuse unethical behaviour. The third trait is responsibility to authority. When one is being ordered around by people in positions of authority, they tend to act upon such orders despite the fact that they are contrary to their individual moral beliefs. Behaviour can thus be highly affected by authority. Finally, situational roles and power structures can shape behaviour. When individuals are placed in certain social roles, they may conform to the expectations associated with those roles. This can lead people to act in ways that they might not normally consider acceptable.
b. I’m from India, an example of a hero I could think of is Kailash Satyarthi. He is widely recognized for his efforts and work in the area to combat child labour and human trafficking. He has dedicated his life to saving children from the exploitative labour conditions and ensuring that children are given the right to be educated and to get protection. Through his organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and activism, he has helped free thousands of children and raised global awareness about the issue of child exploitation. He was a globally acknowledged activist when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. He can be called a hero due to the fact that he questioned the regime where the vulnerable children could be exploited, and because he showed moral courage to fight injustice. His deeds show how people can break the pressure of the system and strive to make changes in social systems and more humane.
A) Watching P. Zimbardo TED talk, it was clear that people are not inherently bad. Their behavior is strongly influenced by their environment, circumstances, and social system. Zimbardo emphasizes that even good people can start to behave badly. He identified four aspects that can shape human behavior: 1. The influence of situations or systems: people often behave badly not because they are bad themselves, but because they see such situations in their system. When others behave in this way, they feel pressured to do the same. Responsibility is often distributed within a group, so everyone feels less responsible. 2. Loss of autonomy and dehumanization: systems and authority can take away people's independence, reduce empathy, and thus encourage cruel behavior towards others. 3. Sharing responsibility: people often "lose" their individuality, become part of a group, and share responsibility with others. This facilitates destructive behavior and reduces personal responsibility. 4. Obedience to the system and authority: people may engage in destructive behavior if they feel that the system requires them to obey or tolerate violence and unjust behavior. In this way, bad behavior becomes normalized. These four aspects show that human behavior is determined not only by personality, but also by social context and the system. Even good people can fall for bad actions if they are influenced by their environment or group pressure. Therefore, it is particularly important for society to have heroes, people who can do the right thing despite pressure from the all system.
ReplyDeleteB) There are many heroes in Lithuania, but I remembered R. Kalanta. In 1972, he set himself on fire in Kaunas, fighting for freedom and against political oppression. He wanted to inspire others to act morally and show that one person can resist the system and influence society. R. Kalanta risked his life not only for himself but for everyone, because he sought national freedom and set an example for those who were afraid to act. His name and his actions are still remembered in Lithuania today. The importance of this example is not only historical but also moral: R. Kalanta showed that one brave person can inspire others, encourage resistance to injustice, and be a hero despite pressure from the system. He reflects Zimbardo idea that heroes are those who are able to resist social and systemic influence and courageously defend justice and morality. His courage reminds us that everyone can choose to do the right thing, even when it seems that the whole system is against you.
I completely agree with you about this Lithuanian hero - Romas Kalanta. This man's resistance to the system and his determination to sacrifice his life for Lithuania's freedom, the welfare and dignity of its citizens, demonstrate great moral courage. Kalanta's story reminds us that individual and courageous actions can bring about community change and that defending human rights often requires enormous personal risk.
DeletePhilip Zimbardo explains in his TED Talk The Psychology of Evil that social systems can sometimes pressure ordinary people to do harmful things. He argues that it is often the situation and environment, not just a person’s character, that influences behavior.
ReplyDeleteOne characteristic is obedience to authority. People may follow orders from authority figures even if the actions are wrong because they feel they must obey those in power. Another factor is conformity to group norms, where individuals go along with the behavior of a group so they do not stand out or face rejection. A third characteristic is diffusion of responsibility, which happens when many people are involved in a situation and individuals feel less personally responsible for the outcome. Finally, dehumanization can occur when people stop seeing others as human beings, which makes it easier to treat them badly.
Zimbardo also talks about people who resist these pressures and act morally. He calls these people heroes because they stand up for what is right even when it is difficult.
One example of a hero in the United States is Rosa Parks, an American civil rights activist. In 1955, she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. At the time, segregation laws required Black passengers to give up their seats for white passengers. Her refusal led to her arrest and helped spark the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which became an important event in the Civil Rights Movement.
Rosa Parks is considered a hero because she resisted an unfair system and stood up against discrimination, even though it could put her in danger. Her actions show how one person can challenge social pressures and help bring about important social change.
It is clear that your explanation of the ideas that were discussed by Philip Zimbardo explains how situations and social systems could affect human behavior. I prefer the way that you have identified certain factors including obedience to authority, conformity, diffusion of responsibility, and dehumanization, because they assist in understanding why common citizens can engage in actions that are harmful. The case of Rosa park and the Montgomery Bus boycott is also quite effective, as we can see how one person can oppose social pressure and fight against unfair system.
DeleteHi Ashlee,
DeleteI agree that Rosa Parks is an excellent example of what Zimbardo calls a hero as she encompasses someone who resists powerful social pressures and chooses to act morally, even when it brings personal risk. In his TED Talk, Zimbardo explains that heroism involves “ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” especially when they challenge unjust systems or norms. This is exactly what Rosa Parks did. Her defiance shows how one act of moral courage can disrupt an unfair system and inspire wider social change, aligning perfectly with Zimbardo’s belief that resisting harmful social pressures is a form of heroism. Thank you so much for sharing!
Philip Zimbardo in his TED talk explains that evil behavior is often not only about bad people. Many times it comes from situations and systems that influence how people behave. Even normal and good people can start to act badly if the system around them pushes them in that direction.
ReplyDeleteOne important characteristic is obedience to authority. People often follow orders from someone in power even when they feel that the action is wrong. Another characteristic is diffusion of responsibility. When many people are involved in the same situation, individuals may feel less responsible for what is happening because they think the responsibility belongs to the group. The third characteristic is dehumanization. When people start to see others as less human, it becomes easier to treat them badly or justify harmful actions. The fourth characteristic is group pressure or conformity. People often follow what others in the group are doing because they do not want to be rejected or seen as different.
Zimbardo also talks about heroes. He says that heroes are ordinary people who choose to resist pressure from the system and do what they believe is morally right.
One example of a hero in Lithuania is Romas Kalanta. In 1972, during the Soviet occupation, he set himself on fire in Kaunas to protest against political oppression and lack of freedom. His action shocked society and inspired protests among young people. Kalanta is considered a hero because he showed moral courage and resisted an unjust system, even though it cost him his life. His story shows how one person can stand against powerful pressure and inspire others to think about justice and freedom.
You explain complex psychological ideas clearly, and I'm overwhelmed to hear a historical example of social activists (Heroes) in Lithuania, most especially during the Soviet Union era. It's sad that sometimes all our societies truly need to fight against bad or harmful social systems are courageous individuals like Kalanta who resisted conformity or authority with so much resilience.
DeleteSocial systems can have a significant influence on the harmful behavior of ordinary people. One important mechanism is obedience to authority, where people may carry out orders simply because they are given by representatives of authority. As Post (2005) argues, leaders can portray bad actions as necessary or morally justifiable, causing individuals to suppress their moral values. Another factor is the distribution of responsibility, which reduces personal responsibility for one's actions. When responsibility is distributed among several people, each person feels that they are only a small part of the whole process. As a result, harmful behavior becomes easier to justify. The third mechanism is dehumanization. It defines other people as less human and less moral. When an entire group of people is labeled as inferior or dangerous, empathy decreases and violence becomes easier to justify. Finally, peer pressure and conformity can have a powerful effect on people's behavior. Bloom (2005) says that people often conform to certain group norms in order to feel useful, even if those norms encourage destructive actions. All four of these forces show that systemic pressure can cause people to behave in ways they would not normally behave.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Balys Sruoga, who survived the Nazi concentration camp at Stutthof, is an example of moral resistance in Lithuania. Even in such an environment, designed to destroy individuality and humanity, he fought against the system so that it would not break his spirit. In his book “Dievų miškas”, Sruoga described the absurdity and moral collapse of the camp with irony and dark humor, turning his experience into intellectual resistance. His calm demeanor and ability to maintain his dignity in an inhuman system reveal an inner strength that Zimbardo describes as heroic resistance. Sruoga remained human in a system designed to destroy humanity—and that makes him a hero.
Hello, Gabija. I really liked your explanation about how people can conform to group norms and do evil things to feel more useful and feel a sense of belonging. In my understanding, all people need this sense of belonging somewhere in their lives. Because of this, sometimes it can lead them to commit such cruel acts, even if these actions contradict their own values.
DeleteAlso I really liked that you mentioned this Lithuanian hero- Balys Sruoga. He is a very good example of how even in tragic, dehumanizing and destructive circumstances, it is possible to remain human.
A. First, I can say that the video was very interesting and it changed my perspective on how good people (good apples) can be manipulated to do such bad things. The photos shown in the video were shocking and disturbing. Seeing soldiers smiling while doing such inhumane and degrading acts left an uneasy feeling.
ReplyDeleteIn his TED talk, Philip Zimbardo explains the main four characteristics of social systems that can pressure people to do very bad things:
1. Dehumanization- seeing others as less than human beings. For instance in shown pictures, you can see that prisoners were being treated not as human beings (naked, kept on a leash, covered in feces, piled up etc.). These people are being viewed as things and not like people with personalities. You can see that there is a very strong demonstration of power- guards being in uniforms while prisoners are naked and at a breaking stage.
2. Anonimity- when people feel not identifiable, (wearing uniforms, helmets etc.) it’s easier to do such bad things because they can feel less responsible.
3. Sharing responsibility- when responsibility of actions feels shared or it can be put on someone else, it can be easier to justify harmful actions against others. ,,Study Of Memory” is a good example explained in the TED talk as how evil starts at 15 V and a transferred responsibility can lead to harmful actions- 450 V…
4. Unquestioned authority- following given instructions even if those actions conflict with personal morals and values.
B. First Lithuanian hero that I thought about is Loreta Asanavičiūtė (1967-1991). a young woman who died on the night of January 13, defending the freedom and independence of the Republic of Lithuania. She was one of the 14 victims of January 13 events. Together with other residents of Vilnius, she stood guard by the TV Tower, helping to protect it from being taken over by USSR. I remember that as a little girl I watched videos of January 13 and couldn’t believe that someone so young had the courage to defend her country.
Hi Greta, I really appreciate that you choose to write about Loreta Asanavičiūtė, I think it’s important to remember all the heroes that lost their lives on January 13, 1991. Today is a very important date in Lithuania March 11th, on this day in 1990 the Supreme Council of Lithuania signed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, declaring independence from the Soviet Union, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to restore its independence. On days like this I often remember heroes that fought for our freedom. It’s hard to imagine how Loreta Asanavičiūtė with no weapons in her hands stood in front of Soviet tanks and fought for freedom with her bare hands.
DeleteAccording to Philip Zimbardo’s TED Talk “The Psychology of Evil”, strong authority and expectations of obedience can significantly influence people’s behavior, especially when individuals experience social pressure to conform and want to avoid being rejected or humiliated by the group. In such situations, even moral and principled individuals may make decisions that go against their values, because psychological dependence on the group or authority reinforces conformity. Zimbardo emphasizes that these conditions can create a kind of “spiral of evil,” where people, influenced by systemic and situational factors, engage in actions they would not normally consider.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, social and economic pressures can further impact behavior. When individuals face scarcity or struggle to meet basic human needs, they may be more likely to compromise their moral standards or engage in harmful activities as a means of survival. This illustrates how systemic constraints—what Zimbardo would describe as “unfreedom”—can limit the real opportunities people have to act ethically and make autonomous choices. Such conditions show that evil actions are not always the result of inherently bad people, but often emerge from contextual pressures and structural limitations.
At the same time, I know several professors at my university who confidently stand up for both their own rights and the rights of others. Their ability to defend human rights and ethical principles comes from being well-informed and able to clearly argue their positions based on knowledge, values, and ethical reasoning. These individuals demonstrate that it is possible to assert one’s position even when facing social pressure from the majority, offering a practical example of ethical and responsible behavior in real-life contexts. They show that moral courage and awareness can allow people to resist systemic pressures, embodying the concept of heroes that Zimbardo highlights.
1.a In his TED Talk, Philip Zimbardo explains that evil actions often come not from “bad people,” but from social processes and systems that put pressure on individuals. Four important characteristics are:
ReplyDeleteDehumanization: when people begin to see others as less “human” (for example, as enemies or objects), it becomes easier to treat them badly.
Diffusion of responsibility : when responsibility is shared across a group or system, individuals feel less personally responsible for their actions (“it’s not me—it’s the system”).
Blind obedience to authority : people often follow orders simply because they come from an authority figure (a leader, the military, or an institution), even if the orders are morally questionable.
Conformity to group norms :individuals tend to adapt to the behavior and norms of the group, even if they encourage harmful actions, because they are afraid of standing out or being rejected.
b. How people resist systemic pressure (“heroes”)
According to Philip Zimbardo, some people manage to resist systemic pressure and become “everyday heroes.” These people are not afraid to go against the group and refuse to blindly follow unfair rules. Take personal responsibility instead of blaming the system. Notice injustice and take action rather than remaining passive bystanders. Risk their reputation or safety to defend others or stand up for moral principles.
Zimbardo emphasizes that heroes are not “special people” — they are usually ordinary people who choose to act when they see injustice.
In other words , four characteristics of social systems:
Dehumanization – when other people are seen as less valuable or “not like us.”
Diffusion of responsibility – a person feels less guilty because responsibility belongs to the whole group or system.
Obedience to authority – people do bad things because they follow orders from a leader or the system.
Conformity to the group – people behave like others in the group so they do not stand out.
“Heroes”. Some people resist pressure because they think for themselves, refuse to obey unfair orders, defend other people, even if it is risky.
In Lithuania, the heroes of the partisan war were brave individuals who, after World War II, resisted the Soviet occupation and fought to defend the country’s freedom and independence. These people risked their lives in extremely dangerous conditions, often living in forests, moving secretly, and facing constant threats from the occupying forces.
Some of the most notable Lithuanian partisan heroes include:
Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas – one of the main leaders of the Lithuanian partisans and a prominent figure in the resistance movement. He organized and coordinated partisan units, becoming a symbol of courage and determination.
Jonas Žemaitis-Vytautas – a partisan leader who later was recognized as the fourth President of Lithuania. He played a key role in uniting the partisan forces across the country.
Juozas Lukša-Daumantas – a well-known partisan who managed to escape to the West and inform the international community about the harsh realities of Soviet repression in Lithuania.
Leonardas Grigonis-Užpalis – a dedicated partisan commander who led operations to protect civilians and maintain the fight for independence.
These individuals are remembered as heroes because they stood against oppression, defended their nation, and risked everything for freedom, often knowing they could be captured, tortured, or killed. Their courage inspired future generations and remains a symbol of Lithuania’s struggle for independence.
The TED talk by Philip Zimbardo, “The Psychology of evil” explains about not always bad individuals create evil actions. The harmful actions are the result of existing social systems and environments in society. According to Philip Zimbardo, there are certain characteristics in the social systems that can pressure even good people into doing bad things.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the important factor is obedience to authority. People start to follow the instructions from authority figures, leaders, or institutions blindly. When someone in power gives an order, individuals may obey that without realising whether it is wrong or right. This leads people to be part of some harmful actions because they are following orders.
Another factor is the deindividuation of personal responsibilities. While individuals have been part of a group or system, they tend to feel a sense of responsibility for their actions being shared with others. Because of this, people start to put effort into acting or behaving in a way that is accepted in a group or system, which masks their individualities.
The third factor will be the dehumanization of others. This is the worst scenario, where individuals start to feel or see others as less important or different from themselves. So the individuals start to feel okay to mistreat others. Dehumanisation will reduce empathy, which also allows harmful behavior to be acceptable in certain ways.
The responsibility sharing is the thing that struck me. When the responsibility of actions can be shared, or we can put the blame on someone, it is much easier to justify harmful actions towards others. There was a point I believed that nobody would go up to 450 V, but that’s not how reality works.
E V Ramasamy periyar is a well-known social activist who worked to challenge social inequalities, caste discrimination, and oppression in Indian society.
Periyar believed that the caste system is a deep social injustice that creates divisions among people. There was a time period when people started to accept the caste system as normal and were part of the caste hierarchy; he strongly opposed and started to question these traditions. He started the Self-Respect Movement, whose aim is to create a society where all people are equal with dignity, regardless of caste or gender. There was a time in India when the caste system was at its highest, where the low-caste people were denied the right to enter near the premises of the temple. He, along with other leaders, started the Vaikom Satyagraha, also called the Temple Entry Movement, which was a success that led to the entry of low-caste people into temples.
One of the remarkable sayings of Periyar was, "Only education, self-respect, and rational qualities will uplift the downtrodden.”
Through writings, speeches, and public activism, Periyar encouraged people to reject discrimination and fight towards social injustice. He also vocalised for women’s rights and their education. He believed that people should think critically rather than blindly follow social customs.
In the TED Talk by Philip Zimbardo, he explains that evil behavior is not always because people are naturally bad, but often because of the power of the situation or social system. One important characteristic is dehumanization, where people begin to see others as less than human. When this happens, it becomes easier to treat them badly without feeling guilty. Another characteristic is blind obedience to authority, where people follow orders from leaders or people in power even if those orders are morally wrong. Zimbardo also talks about diffusion of responsibility, which happens when people feel less responsible for their actions because they are part of a group. Finally, conformity to group norms can pressure individuals to behave in certain ways just to fit in with others, even when they know their behavior is wrong. These characteristics show how powerful social systems and environments can influence human behavior and sometimes lead ordinary people to do harmful things.
ReplyDeleteOne hero from my country is A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He was a famous scientist and later became the president of India. He is often called the “Missile Man of India” because of his important contributions to India’s missile and space programs. Even though he was a very successful scientist and leader, he was known for his humility, kindness, and simple lifestyle. He always believed that education and hard work could change people’s lives. He spent a lot of time meeting students, giving motivational speeches, and encouraging young people to dream big and work towards their goals. What makes him a hero is not only his scientific achievements but also his dedication to inspiring the younger generation and working for the development of the country. Many people respect him because he showed that a person can achieve great success while still remaining humble and committed to helping others.
a) Philip Zimbardo in his TED talk described several different characteristics of social systems that pressure good people do very bad things, he called this shift in human morality “Lucifer’s effect”. These are 4 of them:
ReplyDelete1. Blind obedience to authority. Philip Zimbardo gave an example to this social phenomenon by introducing horrible things that USA soldiers did in interrogation facility in Iraq. Officers told soldiers to cross the line and to get information by any means necessary. And with this power and no oversight by authorities, soldiers did unimaginable things to prisoners.
2. Diffusion of personal responsibility. If people are given a false perception that they are not responsible for their actions they begin to do things that can be against their moral code. This false perception of responsibility lets them think that it is not them that are doing these bad things.
3. Dehumanization of others. In a given example of Stanford’s prison experiment Philip Zimbardo explains how dehumanization of “prisoners” gave “guards” legitimacy to use power and abuse ordinary people. This experiment shows that most of the human population, if the circumstances are right, are capable of doing very bad things to other human beings.
4. Uncritical conformity to group norms. Example to this could be ordinary people in Naci Germany, they knew that concentration camps existed and chose to close their eyes and pretend that nothing bad was going on in those camps.
b) The first person that came to my mind after reading this question was Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas. He was one of the most important leaders of the Lithuanian partisan resistance against Soviet occupation after World War II. Before Soviet occupation he was a teacher and after witnessing what Soviet regime is doing to Lithuania and its people he chose to fight against the regime and to inspire others to do the same. He was captured in 1956, brutally tortured and finally murdered in 1957. He was captured because his former friend from academy betrayed him and I think this perfectly represents Philip Zimbardo’s explained “Lucifer effect”, because his former friend was given power by the new regime and with this power came Blind obedience to the authority. Today Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas is remembered as a symbol of Lithuania’s struggle for freedom and resistance against Soviet occupation.
I agree with Valentinas. Since I am writing on March 11, I feel that it is very meaningful to remember this. Resistance in Lithuania arose with the beginning of the second Soviet occupation. Vanagas quickly began to hold leadership positions. In 1951, from the then-sick Lithuanian partisan commander Jonas Žemaitis, as his deputy, he took over the positions of Chairman of the Council of the Lithuanian Communist Party and Commander of the Armed Forces. From the end of 1952, after the severance of ties with the high command, he lived illegally, hiding with his family, his wife Birute Ramanauskiene-Vanda and his daughter Aukse, who was usually cared for by his grandmother Anelė, who once carried Aukse out of an ambush in a hay sack on her back. His wife was offered to legalize herself and work as a teacher, but she refused. The family stayed with reliable people. The KGB paid particular attention to the search and liquidation of A. Ramanauskas-Vanagas. After 11 years of unsuccessful capture, a permanent operational group was formed from the most experienced KGB spies. In 1956, he was arrested and, after brutal torture, sentenced to death. I was impressed that his wife Birutė was sentenced to 8 years in the strict regime camp in Kemer, where she refused to write a petition for clemency to mitigate the sentence. She was persecuted by the KGB for the rest of her life, but, as her daughter Auksutė said, she never regretted her chosen path. So not only the partisan Vanagas was a hero, but also his wife.
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ReplyDeleteIn his TED Talk The Psychology of Evil, Philip Zimbardo explains evil as the exercise of power. By saying so he clearly states that good people can do bad thing as well as bad people can convert to doing good things with certain situational changes and power shifts in the system they are. The so called Lucifer effect explains how people shift from “good ones” into angels of evil when they are placed in socials situations that encourage and justify such bad behavior.
ReplyDelete1) Taking mild first steps that look like 15 volts is the beginning of the slippery slope of evil. One may not be the bad person at all, but what begins with minimum action eventually reaches the maximum of 450 volts. Ant although it at some point may be referred to as a metaphor, evil at this point is an inert performance of what ones began as nearly nothing. Just one bad words, just a minimum of 15 volts.
2) When such things happen across the system where they see themselves as only a small fish in a pond it diffuses the responsibility, as everyone else is doing that. People thus feel a lot less guilty personally, as they “are the part of the system”. In addition, it come along with “freeing” sentence “I was just following orders”, as if none of this is an internal decision. Another example of an excuse - “This is my job” without questioning the means of performing it.
3) This is, by all means, strengthened by blind obedience to authority which basically legalizes evil actions. It is related to dissociation, I guess, but this case from the moral evaluation of the acts. In this case individual responsibility and moral norm hide behind institutional orders and supposed obligations to follow them even if they conflict with personal moral beliefs.
4) And finally - the power of anonymity. I am explaining it as the last one here, but I think this is where going down the slippery slope of evil may as well often begin. Anonymity is related to the loss of individual identity and is called de-individuation. The gain of anonymity blurs the identity, “expand or delete” social norms and encourage the feeling that peoples’ actions can not be tracked. This all increases thirst for blood and power as people feel less accountable.
I liked the definition of a hero as someone who is acting differently and actively when others are passive . Moreover, the hero acts sociocentrically rather then egocentrically.
When thinking of such a person, one name comes to my mind from our last year's Human rights course. Chiune Sugihara. He was a Japanese diplomat located in Kaunas who issued thousands of transit visas to Jewish refugees during World War II. He did so agains the orders of the government, his actions where illegal at that time and could have caused him deportation or death. He recognized the evil actions and took a step to prevent them.
Hi Agne,
DeleteI really enjoyed how you brought up Chiune Sugihara, as I had not heard of him before! I've always enjoyed hearing about glimpses of heroism through the darkest points of history. Sugihara's actions are reminiscent a lot of those of Oskar Schindler, who spared many Jews from concentration camps by recruiting them to work. He acted in the face of danger and disregarded his own safety, knowing very well that his actions could have easily led to his execution.
I loved your piece! Chiune Sugihara is a real hero where he put human rights ahead of any other agenda!! I wish we had more people like him who value life and people's lives!! Thank you Agne.
Deletea. Four characteristics of social systems that can pressure good people to do very bad things
ReplyDeleteIn his TED Talk “The Psychology of Evil,” Philip Zimbardo explains that evil actions are not always the result of evil people. Often they are the result of situations and social systems that slowly push ordinary people in the wrong direction.
He mentions several characteristics of social systems that can create this pressure.
First, dehumanization. When people start seeing others not as individuals but as “enemies,” “criminals,” or just a group, it becomes easier to treat them badly.
Second, blind obedience to authority. Many people are used to following orders from authority figures, even when those orders feel morally wrong.
Third, diffusion of responsibility. In large systems people often feel that responsibility belongs to someone else, so they do not feel personally accountable for what happens.
Fourth, anonymity. When people feel anonymous inside a group or system, they may behave in ways they normally would not, because they believe no one will hold them personally responsible.
Zimbardo’s main idea is that under certain conditions even good people can cross moral boundaries.
b. A hero in my country
Zimbardo also talks about people who manage to resist such pressure. He calls them heroes – ordinary people who decide to act according to their values even when the system pushes them to stay silent.
For me, one such hero is my grandmother, Solastika Kučienė-Šiurkutė-Eglė.
During the Soviet occupation of Lithuania she was connected with the Lithuanian partisan resistance. At that time many people were afraid to help the partisans, because doing so could lead to prison, deportation, or worse. Despite this danger, there were civilians who supported them in different ways.
My grandmother was one of those people. She helped the resistance movement even though she knew that it was risky. In that period it was often safer to remain silent and simply adapt to the system. Choosing not to do that required courage.
For me, this is exactly what Zimbardo means when he speaks about everyday heroes. A hero is not always a famous person. Sometimes it is someone who quietly makes a moral choice and stands on the side of freedom and dignity.
That is why I consider my grandmother a hero. She stayed loyal to her values at a time when the system tried to make people obedient and afraid.
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DeleteThank you for bravely sharing the story of your grandmother’s resistance to oppression. As a future nurse and social worker, her story is very empowering and motivating. I once read a fiction novel called Between Shades of Grey which centers the very real Soviet occupation of Lithuania, so I am (vaguely) familiar of the horrible ways Lithuanian people were treated at the time, and the punishment your grandmother could have faced for standing up to tyranny. Your Grandmother exemplifies Zimbardo’s definition of a hero as she was not a woman who was a career activist like Gandi or MLK, but an individual who refused to put down their morals when her life was on the line.
DeleteZimbardo argues, from an incrementalist standpoint, that it is not the character of individuals that leads to evil, but rather the environmental systems in which they are embedded. The four characteristics of these systems are legal, political, economic, and cultural (Zimbardo, 2008). He argues from a place of hopeful conviction that it is possible to change a person towards good. By changing the situation that they live in.
ReplyDeleteThis begs the question: how does one become a hero? Zimbardo thinks that heroism is banal (Zimbardo, 2007). In that there is no distinction between ordinary persons and heroes, as we are all heroes in waiting. To do so, two factors are necessary—first, the ability to act when others are passive. Secondly, to act in a sociocentric instead of an egocentric manner.
I believe that Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, is a hero. Fr. Boyle founded Homeboy Industries, a rehabilitation center for formerly incarcerated gang members in Los Angeles, California. However, even this synopsis does not do his work justice. By adopting a stance of unconditional regard and believing in the God-given goodness of the detainees he works with, he bears witness to their journey of transformation and healing as they reintegrate into society. This ability to exist in circles of kinship with these former gang members, by intentionally choosing to include them in his circle of God-given family, makes him a hero to me. Very few individuals can walk with "othered criminals" in this way. The transformative and healing effects of this practice are evident in these former gang members being able to work side by side with their old enemies.
Zimbardo, P. (2008, February). The psychology of evil. TED.com; TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_the_psychology_of_evil
Zimbardo, P. G. (2007). The Lucifer effect: Understanding how good people turn evil. Random House Trade Paperbacks.
I agree with your interpretation of Philip Zimbardo’s ideas about evil and heroism. Your explanation clearly reflects Zimbardo’s argument that harmful behavior is often shaped more by situational and systemic influences than by the individual character of a person. The idea that legal, political, economic, and cultural systems can shape people’s behavior is very important, because it helps us understand that wrongdoing is rarely caused by “evil individuals” alone. Instead, people can gradually become involved in harmful actions when they are placed in environments that normalize injustice or encourage obedience without reflection. This perspective is powerful because it shifts the focus from blaming individuals to examining the broader systems that influence behavior. I also agree with your point that Zimbardo’s theory offers hope. If environments and systems contribute to harmful behavior, then changing those systems can also encourage positive, ethical behavior.
DeleteYour explanation of Zimbardo’s concept of “banal heroism” is also very insightful. The idea that heroes are not extraordinary people but ordinary individuals who choose to act when others remain passive is inspiring. It suggests that heroism is accessible to everyone. I think this perspective is especially important in social work and community life because it encourages individuals to take responsibility for responding to injustice, rather than assuming that only exceptional people can create change. Acting in a sociocentric way—thinking about the well-being of others rather than only personal interests—is an essential part of ethical behavior and social responsibility.
I also appreciate your example of Fr. Greg Boyle and the work he has done with Homeboy Industries. His approach demonstrates how compassion, empathy, and unconditional acceptance can support transformation and healing in people who have been marginalized or stigmatized. Many societies tend to label formerly incarcerated individuals as dangerous or unworthy of trust, which often prevents them from reintegrating into society. Fr. Boyle’s work challenges this perspective by recognizing the humanity and potential of people who have been involved in gangs or crime. His willingness to stand with individuals who are often rejected by society reflects the kind of sociocentric action that Zimbardo describes.
What I find particularly meaningful in your example is the idea of “circles of kinship.” Creating spaces where people who were once enemies can work together and rebuild their lives shows the power of inclusion and community. It demonstrates that transformation is possible when people are given opportunities, support, and dignity. In this sense, Fr. Boyle’s work also connects to broader ideas in social work and restorative justice, which emphasize healing, accountability, and reintegration rather than punishment alone.
Overall, I strongly agree with your reflections on Zimbardo’s ideas. Your example of Fr. Greg Boyle illustrates how individuals can challenge harmful systems and promote healing through compassion and courage. It reminds us that heroism does not always involve dramatic acts but often appears in everyday decisions to treat others with dignity and to stand up for those who are marginalized.
Four characteristics of social systems that can pressure good people to do very bad things
ReplyDeleteIn his TED Talk, psychologist Philip Zimbardo explains that evil behavior is often not caused by “bad people,” but by powerful social systems and situations that influence ordinary individuals. His research shows that certain social conditions can push otherwise good people to behave in harmful or unethical ways.
Zimbardo describes several social processes that create what he calls the “slippery slope of evil.” Four important characteristics of social systems that can pressure good people into doing bad things include the following:
1. Dehumanization of others
One major factor is when a system encourages people to see others as less than human. When individuals are portrayed as inferior, dangerous, or undeserving of dignity, it becomes easier to mistreat them. Dehumanization removes empathy and moral concern. For example, prisoners, enemies during war, or marginalized groups may be labeled with degrading language or stereotypes. Once people stop seeing others as equal human beings, harmful actions become easier to justify.
In his TED Talk, "Psychology of Evil," Philip Zimbardo discusses how ordinary men, at times, step into the role of perpetrating harm because of powerful social forces. Also, he says that in certain social conditions, good people may do bad things.
ReplyDeleteFirst is dehumanization- Meaning when we begin to look at other humans as less than human, which in turn makes us treat them with less care and disregard their worth and individuality, thus feeling less empathy and fewer moral constraints.
Moreover, another is anonymity, also known as de-individuation. In very large groups, one may feel but a number rather than a person. That sense of anonymity may lead people to abandon their regular moral behaviors, thinking no one will identify them or hold them to account for what they do.
Furthermore, there is blind obedience to authority. If a very authoritative figure gives a command, the person may go along without question, although he may have moral issues with the act; the presence of the authority may put the person under great pressure to perform it.
In addition, present is the diffusion of responsibility. In a group setting, a person may think, "Well, someone else will deal with that issue, so I don’t need to," which, in fact, means personal accountability is spread out, making it easier to avoid responsibility for one's own actions.
Finally, though these elements may push men toward evil, there is also a group of individuals who show extreme courage and compassion. Among them was Dr Khan from Sierra Leone. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, he selflessly threw himself at the task of treating infected and dying out of duty and love for humanity at great personal cost to himself. Sadly, Dr Khan ended up infected and died from the disease. His bravery and commitment during a very serious public health care crisis have truly made him a hero.
Thank you for sharing. Dr. Khan's actions during the Ebola outbreak demonstrate a commitment to human dignity, showing up for people and remaining present for those who are suffering, despite the personal risk. At the same time and on the topic of circumstances, Dr. Khan’s story also speaks to the fact that his solidarity and heroism should not be required for people to do their jobs safely, and that hopefully stories like his push the protection and support of frontline workers so that acts of compassion do not come at such devastating cost.
DeleteZimbardo has the idea that corrupt systems are what can end up corrupting individuals ( “bad barrels corrupting good apples” ). This is especially important given that these same corrupt systems have the power to perpetuate themselves and these cycles, whereas people do not get to choose the contexts and situations they are born into; and a structural understanding of why people act as they do helps us as social workers and members of our communities to deflect the commonly used victim blaming approach for the cause of social problems.
ReplyDeleteSome characteristics that Zimbardo believes make up these systems and facilitate evil acts are dehumanization, a diffusion of responsibility/accountability, deindividuation, and blind obedience to authority. With the dehumanization of others, the system encourages individuals to view victims as object, enemies, or less than human. By doing this, they strip away a person’s human qualities, reducing empathy and moral considerations that normally prevent people from committing cruel or “evil” acts, making it psychologically easier to justify violence. The issue of unquestioned authority arises when social systems establish rigid structures in which their instructions are carried out without question, regardless of whether they conflict with the values of the individual carrying them out. As a consequence of this, the scenario created is one where people feel like they have to follow orders to remain a part of the system; they are punished when questioning the superior, and rewarded for compliance, which pressures individuals to ignore their moral compass for the sake of the system’s goals, which might not even take the people following their orders into consideration. Similar to the following of orders, there also exists a diffusion of responsibility. When responsibility is shared among a larger group, it is easier for no single person to feel they are solely responsible for the “evil” decision, telling themselves they are “just doing their job” or “following orders,” and shifting the blame to higher management or the collective. This diffused responsibility, combined with the dehumanization of the victim, makes it easier to commit said actions. Finally, deindividuation (anonymity) is used by systems to create a “loss of self” that blurs peoples identities, and makes them feel as though they (and their actions) cannot be tracked, decreasing the sense of personal responsibility and accountability.
Preventing “evil” is about changing the systems that perpetuate it, this is why the integration of macro-level social work intervention into policy and social change is so important: by recognizing and focusing on the unequal power and resources built into social structures, practitioners can better address the unequal life chances of those affected.
The idea of maskin oneself under some titles to escape the guilt, shame, or some charges, really shows the true face of some institutions. If you are hiding under the name of Police, Army, some influential Political party then you feel the freedom to act as you want, releasing darkest ideas and dehumanising people you should be guarding. Those images from the Abu Ghraib prison shows how evil is born and those guards (! hard to imagine how this word fits in this situation since the name of the job title is contradicting what they did there) smile as kids seeing the pain and agony of others. It easy to strip people out of their humanity when they have no names, no back stories and the system you are following, calls them enemies. I wonder what kind of propaganda is working in the recruiting centers, how soldiers are being prepared for it and how we, as social workers, could step in and show that such narrative is destructive for both parties. I agree with your thought of micro-level social work interventions and I hope that in the future we will have more of those Zimbardo heroes.
DeleteAn example of a hero in my country, to me, is Marisela Escobedo Otriz, a symbol of courage and resistance. Mexico faces a crisis of femicide and human trafficking that has been combined with impunity for perpetrators and state neglect towards the victims and their families. In 2008, Marisela Escobedo’s daughter was murdered, and the justice system in Chihuahua allowed the confessed killer to go free. Instead of surrendering to the systemic indifference and corruption of the legal system, she became a full-time activist. She walked across the entirety Mexico, organized protests, and famously camped outside the Governor's office to demand justice for her daughter and other victims of femicide. A hero defined by Zimbardo, acts for the benefit of others or a cause. Marisela was active in the protest for justice for her daughter and all of the victims of femicide that whose cases have had similar fates, challenging the state’s persistent neglect as well as the corrupt and unequal distribution of power and resources that characterizes structural violence by the justice systems in Mexico that treats victims as insignificant. In a context where many remain silent out of fear, Marisela staged permanent protests and marches, embodying the Zimbardo’s resistance of choosing truth and morality even when it comes at a high personal price. Marisela’s significance lies in her refusal to allow the murder of women to be normalized, particularly in a system that has been set up in its own best interests and not those who seek justice. Her many public protests and the way she carried her daughter's photo forced the system and society to look at the victim as a human being with dignity, or a number for bureaucracies. Marisela was assasinated while holding a vigil and protesting the murder of her daughter on the steps of the Governor’s Palace, and has been used as a symbol for the continuing protests for justice all over the country.
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ReplyDeleteIn his TED talk Philip Zimbardo identifies “7 social processes that grease the slippery slope of evil” four of which include: Mindlessly taking the first small step, Dehumanization of others, Blind obedience of authority, and uncritical conformity to group norms.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Zimbardo identifies “mindlessly taking the first small step” and “blind obedience to authority” which in my opinion go hand in hand. In his TED talk, Zimbardo uses the Milgram experiment as an exemplar. When asked by the researcher (the authority) over 2/3 of participants delivered the final 450-volt shock, despite having the autonomy not to do so. However, every patient started with 15 volts, making the next 15 volts, and so on, much easier to deliver. If the researcher asked the participants to deliver the fatal shock right away, it would be safe to assume that the results of the experiment would be much different.
Next, Zimbardo cites the dehumanization of others as another slippery slope to evil. In his TED talk, he uses the Stanford prison experiment to prove his point. The participants of this experiment were all “well to do” college boys, but when they were reduced to prisoners and guards, those who were in charge started to view the “prisoners” as beneath them and treated them with little to no human decency.
Finally, Zimbardo lists uncritical conformity to group norms as a social process that can influence those not just toward evil, but also indifference. Zimbardo believes that most people aren’t villains. However, most people are indifferent and society programs people from a young age to “mind their business” even when getting involved is the morally correct thing to do.
In my country, specifically in my hometown of Maywood IL, Black Panther Chairmen Fred Hampton is a hero who's influence and contributions toward justice are still present to this day. He is most famous for founding the Rainbow coalition (a multiracial civil rights organization) and uniting local street gangs in a non-violence pact. He was also a founder of the free breakfast program, which paved the way for many other policies that aimed to minimalize childhood hunger. Fred Hampton was eventually targeted and murdered by the FBI in 1969 when he was only 21 years old, but his legacy is still very alive, especially on the west side of Chicago.
Hi Maya!
ReplyDeleteI liked learning about the hero you mentioned - Fred Hampton. It is really cool and meaningful that you chose someone from your hometown! In a time when a lot of injustice was happening, he was fighting for justice and that is exactly what Zimbardo described in the TED Talk. It is very sad that he died so young! Anyways, thanks for sharing about this hero! I appreciate it.
1.a. Philip Zimbardo's TED talk reminded me of a book called Violence: Reflection on a National Epidemic by James Gilligan. Both of them talk and explain violence not as something that people are born with, as a mutated genome, but as something shaped by social structures, conditioned by the environment and psychological factors. Zimbardo describes how violence can be created by specific authority structures where perpetrators puts on a mask or sort to say, gets into a character of a soldier, policeman, or a man in power who can do anything to the people they think they are below them. This type of justice really is disfigured and mutated, leading into committing crimes against people without any taken responsibility. Zimbardo names it as – “it is not me, I was conditioned to act in that way” and we can count hundreds if not thousands of such cases where after the atrocities, perpetrator defends themselves by shifting the blame to the upper circles. In the end, investigation leads nowhere and nobody is punished.
ReplyDeleteThe four characteristics of social systems that can pressure good people to do very bad things would be a. being able to stay unrecognized during the act of violence; b. obedience to the authority that is ordering to do evil act; c. dehumanization of “other” people or people who are on the other side, there are less of them or some specific causes makes them powerless in the eyes of the perpetrators or the authority pushes agenda against them; d. escalation of evil – as mentioned in the video, all evil starts with 15 volts and in the end it reaches insane amounts of it. This was really powerful way to show how little it takes to start hurting people.
That’s where Zimbardo’s heroes come into the picture. Heroes, as he mentioned, not idealistic people who we love to adore, not cartoon characters but those who stepped in and tried to stop this cycle of violence, pain, shame and injustice.
1.b Talking about such heroes, for me it is hard not to mention Balys Sruoga (1896-1947). He was a Lithuanian writer, who in 1943 was arrested and sent into the Stutthof concentration camp in Sztutowo, Free City of Danzig. His book The Forest of Gods is based on his experience there which shows not only how systems condition people to choose violence or evil, but also how to choose kindness and stay humane even in such times.
In his book he writes – “The SS could shoot a prisoner at any moment, hang him, or finally stone him to death, throw him to the dogs to be torn apart, rob him, flog him, tar him - and so on, and so on. The prisoner was beyond the law. He had no rights. No justice protected him. He meant less than any item recorded in the inventory books. And yet the SS men could neither run the camp nor live a private life without the help of the prisoners. Such prisoners-in-waiting were mostly Poles who had endured in Stutthof since the beginning of the camp, and Germans who had been brought back from other camps - mostly criminologists, homosexuals, and Bible scholars.” It shows how institution makes prisoners turn against each other even though in reality they are the same branch of the tree. It tells a real life events how even good people turn against humanity in order to survive, how good people become evil soldiers because of the system where they are, how obedience to the authority keeps the cycle of evil alive.
a. According to Zimbardo, there are certain social system characteristics that can make good people pursue bad and harmful behaviors. There were 4 characteristics described which are dehumanization, de-individuation, diffusion of responsibility, and blind obedience to authority. First, dehumanization occurs when victims are not seen as human, and are diminished to the “worse” or “less” status. This lack of human status somewhat allows to harm these people, as such a justification of a bad attitude.
ReplyDeleteSecond is de-individuation, which refers to the loss of a person’s identity in a group or a system. Somewhat similar to a feeling of being invisible.
Third is about the diffusion of responsibility, which is about dividing responsibility among people, that creates a certain perception for them that their part of the responsibility is not that demanding, and someone else can do the job. Finally, the blind obedience to authority is an important characteristic that refers to the obedience of power-holders even if orders are inappropriate, uncomfortable, or clash with the moral values and worldview of people. I understand it as the process that accumulates certain emotions in people that might lead to violent and evil behaviors in the future.
b. I think each soldier devoted to protecting my country from evil is a hero. Especially those who decided to dedicate their lives to it voluntarily and immediately. I won't talk about politicians or huge figures, or even famous soldiers. Each defender is a hero. But for this assignment I want to dedicate the words to my father. There is no need to disclose what is the specifics of his job, but he left his past life behind and dedicated more than 4 years of his life to resisting the systemic pressures and helping others to do so, as well as saving lives. He believes that people need to fight for themselves and not let evil ruin their lives. Resisting evil is a key; otherwise, there will be nothing to save. And that we are not helpless until we have faith. His name is Volodymyr Kulyk. One of the many, one of the heroes, but the most precious in my eyes.
a.
ReplyDelete1. Dehumanization of others; when a group teaches people to see a specific group as less than human.
2. Diffusion of responsibility; When no one feels personally accountable for something, a responsibility is spread across a team so no one thinks they are responsible for their action, that everyone is doing it.
3. Blind obedience to authority; when a group abides by a powerful leader, making people comply even when the group’s actions conflict with personal morals.
4. Uncritical conformity to group norms; when a group normalizes certain behaviors and those involved have to adjust to fit in with those behaviors.
b. A current hero in the US is New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani is a democratic socialist who took New York by storm advocating for free childcare and public transportation. He is also New York City’s first Muslim mayor. I believe he is a hero because he is reminding the people of New York that they are all valued and considered when it comes to the decisions he is making for the city. Although he has not been in office very long he has made an impact by jumpstarting programs for free/ less expensive childcare throughout the city. Throughout Trump’s presidential term he has not endorsed Mamdani but when they are together both parties are polive and cordial. Mamdani is against most of Trump’s legislation and refuses to endorse him and well but speaks to the president with confidence and respect.
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ReplyDeleteIn his TED talk, Phillip Zombardo, using his extensive background as a social psychologist and lead researcher involved in the Stanford Prison Experiment, delineates some of the key reasons that social systems will lead ordinary people to act in heinous, evil ways. The first of these reasons stems from his quote “all evil starts with 15 volts,” which references the Milgram experiment, in which the electric shock perpetrated by those in the experiment were initially so small they could not be felt, but gradually escalated to a dangerous level of voltage. This highlights that the incremental steps of evil, starting from something innocuous, may give perpetrators a false sense of security that what they are doing is morally sound.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of these characteristics that lead ordinary people to commit objectively evil actions is the concept of anonymity, wherein a person, a soldier for example, does not show their face when committing a crime for which they would be publicly scrutinized for if identified. This acts as a way of dissociating oneself from their actions. This is closely related to the third principle, which is the diffusion of responsibility. The greater the number of soldiers or perpetrators are part of an act, the less responsible that each person feels morally. Finally, when people are led to dehumanize people that they perceive to be different to them, or treat them like animals, this can lead them to doing things they would never fathom doing to another human being, because that is no longer how they view their enemy.
When others around you are participating in evil acts, resisting is an act of power, defiance, and heroism. One of the people who I would consider to be a hero is Father Groppi, who was a Catholic priest and a civil rights activist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He became the advisor of the Milwaukee chapter of the NAACP youth council, and led the March on Milwaukee in 1967, which was a 200 day sustained protest consisting of marches and gatherings that led to his arrest several times over. This was performed to combat housing segregation in the city, and eventually led to the passing of a local fair housing act. As a white man, Groppi could have easily been one of the southern police officers on the other side of Freedom Summer, spraying protestors with firehoses, or could have been a segregationist politician. However, he decided to use his privilege to fight for his community members to have justice, which cemented his heroic legacy.
Phillip Zimbardo in the TED Talk explains how the impact of social system and situations can influence bad behavior among ordinary people, regardless of if they think otherwise of their character. The systems that were spoken about was one the dehumanization of others, the diffusion of responsibility, next is the blind obedience to authority, and lastly the conformity to group norms. Dehumanization of others is described as a change in perspective of not seeing others as a full human, a sense of superiority, and the dangers that come with that are harm and cruelty because it seems easier. As for the diffusion of responsibilities, individuals are less likely to feel at fault for actions that come to others because it was shared among more people than just themselves. Having blind obedience to authority follows orders and directions from authority figures as they hold more power, creating a power dynamic that can lead to compliance in harmful and ethical orders. An example mention was the Stanford Prison study. Lastly conformity to group norms, in order to feel a sense of belonging individuals will follow groups and their beliefs. Zimbardo will argue that previous social pressures can motive people to enact harmful behaviors demonstrating how evil actions can stem from systems and situations rather than the concept of just “bad people”.
ReplyDeleteA hero that comes in mind is Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her fight for gender equality and reproductive rights. Not only was Ginsburg a Supreme Court Justice but was also a lawyer which argued in many different cases challenging law that discriminated on the bases of gender. The Women’s Right Project was co- founded by Ginsburg to ensure women were equally protected by the law during the 1970s. She is a prime example of a hero due to her determination in challenging the legal system but also social norms on the treatment of women. Ginsburg herself was no stranger to discrimination in her field of career with being a female lawyer but continued to advocate for those changes to limit the rights of women. she fought the reproductive freedom, healthcare, education, and employment for women. A famous case where Ginsburg was apart was Roe vs. Wade for the constitutional protections and rights for abortion. Ruth Bader Ginsburg resisted the systemic pressures and with her knowledge and position promoted for the justice, equality, and human rights of women.
According to the reflection of Zimbardo's TED talk, he describes how local people within societies can be directly or indirectly influenced and forced to commit to harmful behavior by social systems that define their day-to-day lives and functioning. one important characteristic of harmful social systems he mentioned is Dehumanization, where local people or groups are treated less or deprived of positive human qualities, personality and dignity. Another key harmful characteristic in social systems, he mentioned again, was diffusion of responsibility, where people or groups don't see the need for accountability in their actions. If i can digress a little, I will say these characteristics of Diffusion and Responsibility can be visible as one of the most common phenomena in most societies and social systems in Cameroon. where people feel less likely to take action in a group setting or emergency because they assume others present will take responsibility. this reduces accountability and causes people to feel less guilty for their actions, behavior faced with responsibility. the third characteristics he mention was Blind Obedience to Authority, where people are forced to comply to harmful instructions, laws from higher authorities with little or ability to question if these instructions are right or wrong in contracts to their norms, values or customs. Lastly, he mentioned Uncritical Conformity to Group Norms. where he says that usually, individuals often go along with the behavior of a group in order to fit or blend into their system, even when this group's actions are harmful to their values or norms. Despite the negative influences, Zimbardo emphasizes that some people still resist these pressures that exist within this social system and choose to act with morals and integrity. According to him, heroes are just ordinary people who vehemently choose to do the right thing even in difficult situations where they are pressured to conform. An example of such a hero in Cameroon, to me, is Mancho Bibixy Tse. He was a social activist who became famous during the early days of the Anglophone crisis in the Southwest and Northwest regions of Cameroon. He dedicated his life to organizing peaceful protests and spoke publicly against the government's marginalization, injustice, abuse, exploitation, oppression, and inequality in these Anglophone regions. Manchou Bibixy Tse, in my reflection, can be considered a hero because he demonstrates courage, resilience, and moral integrity. He refused to conform to harmful social systems and norms and instead took actions to protect, advocate for those who are vulnerable, for their rights and voices to be heard by the government, and called for international bodies such as the United Nations to intervene in the issue, but as usual, he was faced with so much resistance and restraints. Even in prison, captured by the government, his work reflects selflessness, moral responsibility, and commitment to justice, even when it is difficult or risky. His actions serve as an example to other uprising activists. He shows that individuals have the power to resist negative social pressures and create positive change. In conclusion, Zimbardo highlights the strong influence of the social system on human behavior, how it can lead ordinary people to conform to harmful norms. However, it also serves as hope by emphasizing that individuals can resist these pressures.
ReplyDeletePhilip Zimbardo explains that evil is not something people are born with. Instead, it is created by the system or the situation. He means that bad actions usually start small and seem harmless. Slowly, the actions become more dangerous. Because it starts so small, people don't realize they are doing something wrong until it is too late.
ReplyDeleteThere are four main reasons why a system can pressure good people to do bad things. First is dehumanization, which is when the system makes victims seem less than human so it feels "okay" to hurt them. Second is de-individuation, where people hide their identity behind masks or uniforms. This makes them feel invisible and less responsible. Third is the diffusion of responsibility, where people feel that since everyone is doing it, it is not their individual fault. Finally, blind obedience to authority pressures people to follow orders from powerful leaders, even if those orders are cruel or go against their own morals
Begum Sufia Kamal a hero of Bangladesh:
Sufia Kamal was a famous poet and activist. During the 1971 Liberation War, the system in Bangladesh was filled with violence. Many people were afraid to speak out because they were being watched by the military. Even though she was under house arrest, she refused to stop helping people. She used her home as a safe place to support the freedom fighters and families in need.
After the war, she continued to fight the "system" of sexism. She founded the Mahila Parishad, a group that fights for women’s rights. At that time, many women were expected to stay in a "dark room" with no rights. She worked hard to change laws so that women could go to school, get a divorce if they were mistreated, and be protected from child marriage. She believed that a woman should be a leader, not a prisoner of her home.
According to Zimbardo, most people follow the crowd because of systemic pressure, but Sufia Kamal did the opposite. While the system pressured people to be silent or follow bad leaders, she showed courage. She stood up to powerful governments and religious groups who wanted to take away people's freedoms.
What makes her a hero is her "Heroic Imagination." This means she could see a future where Bangladesh was free and fair, even when the world around her was full of "darkness." She didn't have a weapon or an army, she only had her voice and her pen. By refusing to follow unfair rules, she showed others how to be brave. She moved women from the "dark room" into the "light" of education and politics, making her a true hero of social work