The Lucifer Effect begins with a detailed recollection of the Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) by psychologist Phil Zimbardo in which several college-age students were placed in a prisoner-guard simulation. It wasn’t before long that the participants underwent significant character “transformations” resulting in verbal, physical, and sexual abuse and trauma that the experiment had to be stopped prematurely. Zimbardo discusses the implications of this experiment for how we understand evil, the situational factors that can produce evil in anyone, and how we can better prepare ourselves to resist unjust systems.
Overall Impression
This was such an interesting read. It would have been a fascinating audiobook as well, especially the first half of the book which details the Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) with included dialogue. Phil Zimbardo does an amazing job retelling this horrifying story, for which he was primarily at fault. His passion and humility shine through as he recounts the events and admits his own shortcomings and moral failures throughout.
This book is very influential. The start of the book contains a painting by MC Escher and asks you what you see. When I first looked at the painting, I saw angels. Then after reading the description of the painting, I re-examined the painting and saw the demons mentioned in the description.
At the end of the book, I found the painting again on the concluding page. This time, after reading about Zimbardo’s experiment, his discussion on human nature, and the atrocities committed by “good” people overseas, I clearly saw the demons first and had to look hard to see the angels!
This book raises paradigm-shifting questions in regard to how we view others and how we view ourselves:
We tend to label people who behave poorly as “bad apples” (while almost always self-proclaiming ourselves as “good apples”). When someone does something evil, it gives us a sense of comfort to tell ourselves, “He did that because he’s a bad person”. When the bad person gets locked up, we feel safer. But what if, in reality, anyone can be a “bad person”? This is much more unnerving. Psychology research is suggesting that anyone, given the right (or wrong) situational factors, is capable of evil. This raises important questions, especially regarding how to understand cases in which a “good” person does something evil. Did the good person turn evil? Or was he always evil deep down?
- These ideas bring up important concepts within the Christian faith. From early Judaism to modern Christianity, from the beginning of the Hebrew Testament to the end of the Greek, the consistent teaching is one of human depravity (and God’s grace). Human nature is in rebellion against trusting God and is for the preservation of oneself. All of us fall short of God’s perfection and the glory (or status) he bestowed on us. Not one of us is better than another, for as the saying goes, the ground is level at the foot of the cross.
In the SPE, pacifist college students who were enrolled as prison guards quickly assumed their new identities and showed concerning bents toward violence and abuse, with justification for their actions. They were no longer students or participants in an experiment, but brutal prison guards who saw the other “criminals” as just that.
Zimbardo discusses the human tendency to assume identities others give to us. We become our roles, and when needed, compartmentalize our duties to eliminate any dissonance or guilt. It is a defense of our ego. Zimbardo suggests we should be cautious about the identities others give us. He advises we should be aware of its potential to distort our moral compass.
- This brings up important ideas around regeneration and becoming “new creations” in Christ. What if we honestly recognized the depths of our sin, but also had new fixed identities that superseded any labels the world offers us? God has called us His image-bearers, sons & daughters, first and foremost. Living fully integrated, rather than compartmentalized, lives of faith with our divine label superseding all others would certainly protect us & others from human-imposed injustices.
On page 297, Zimbardo speaks further to human nature’s insatiable appetite. “Our species is driven by wanton desires, unlimited appetites, and hostile impulses unless people are transformed into rational, reasonable, compassionate human beings by education, religion, and family, or controlled by the discipline imposed upon them by the authority of the State.” (p297)
- But does education, religion, family, or the State solve the problem? While these factors certainly promote human flourishing, history would tell us that for the most part, each of these entities fails to provide a sufficient solution. Evil persists in every culture and in every time period. Human beings need a new nature, not increased regulations.
Favorite Quotes
Our species is driven by wanton desires, unlimited appetites, and hostile impulses unless people are transformed into rational, reasonable, compassionate human beings by education, religion, and family, or controlled by the discipline imposed upon them by the authority of the State (297).
For many, that belief of personal power to resist powerful situational and systemic forces is a little more than a reassuring illusion of invulnerability. Paradoxically, maintaining that illusion only serves to make one more vulnerable to manipulation by failing to be sufficiently vigilant against attempts of undesired influence subtly practiced on them (180).
Without realizing it, we often behave in ways that confirm the beliefs others have about us. Those subjective beliefs can create new realities for us. We often become who other people think we are, in their eyes and in our behavior (321).
Top Takeaways
- Be honest about the depths of your sin and know that you are not immune to situational forces!
- Hold others accountable for their actions while having grace for them, understanding they are not merely “bad people” or “worse” than you. Seek to understand the “barrel” they grew up in or are currently experiencing.
- Pray for a solid understanding of your God given identity and be cautious of identities others give you.
- Heroism entails rallying others and sharing the load. When standing up to unjust systems, do not go at it alone.
Disclaimer
Please note: If you liked this review or my linked summary, I encourage you to purchase the book. This review is meant to be a supplement to the book and certainly not a substitute.
